Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Salinas, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Salinas, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 18.6% more expensive than Salinas, CA without rent, and 3.6% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 22.4% more expensive than Salinas, CA without rent, and 5.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Salinas, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$29.69 $29.69
-15.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$89.1 $89.1
32.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$12.04 $12.04
14.95%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$4.9 $4.9
18.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.66 $2.66
10.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.14 $2.14
17.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$7.86 $7.86
-0.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$7.84 $7.84
-
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Salinas, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.46 $1.46
-8.22%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$3.55 $3.55
40.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$6.36 $6.36
-15.88%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$5.55 $5.55
24.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$21 $21
18.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$13.16 $13.16
19.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$16.74 $16.74
24.49%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$6 $6
0.83%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.16 $2.16
27.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$3.57 $3.57
53.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$6.06 $6.06
6.44%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$4.47 $4.47
-30.43%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$3.39 $3.39
8.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.17 $2.17
28.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.87 $1.87
34.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$11.09 $11.09
4.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$10.18 $10.18
68.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.68 $1.68
75.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$5.34 $5.34
-21.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Salinas, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$1.95 $1.95
43.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$68.8 $68.8
46.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$3.45 $3.45
-22.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.88 $1.88
-12.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$40.24 $40.24
-25.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.31 $1.31
-11.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$24.2K $24.2K
37.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.3K $26.3K
-0.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Salinas, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$277 $277
-2.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$53.1 $53.1
16.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$72.6 $72.6
3.61%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Salinas, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$39.6 $39.6
98.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$14.31 $14.31
11.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Salinas, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$1,968 $1,968
14.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$38.3K $38.3K
-24.28%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Salinas, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$56.1 $56.1
24.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$37.8 $37.8
38.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$92.3 $92.3
29.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$126 $126
12.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Salinas, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$2,200 $2,200
8.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$2,164 $2,164
-15.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$4,186 $4,186
12.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$3,806 $3,806
-8.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$2,778 $2,778
149.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$2,415 $2,415
116.35%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Salinas, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$4,905 $4,905
31.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.41
0.16%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Salinas, CA: October 28, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.