Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and San Clemente, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and San Clemente, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,621 in Seattle, WA versus $3,353 in San Clemente, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,548 in Seattle, WA versus $4,895 in San Clemente, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,476 in Seattle, WA versus $6,437 in San Clemente, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 8% more expensive than in San Clemente, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 172% above, San Clemente, CA 152% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$22.98 $22.98

8.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$98.9 $98.9

19.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$14.93 $14.93

-7.84%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$4.89 $4.89

19.63%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.07 $3.07

-0.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.47 $2.47

-3.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$7.02 $7.02

12.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.80 $7.80

0.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.06 $1.06

31.13%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.37 $4.37

11.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$4.48 $4.48

15.62%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$3.96 $3.96

68.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$13.70 $13.70

84.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$12.43 $12.43

28.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$18.46 $18.46

9.21%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.61 $4.61

34.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.72 $1.72

67.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$4.04 $4.04

35.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$4.78 $4.78

33.47%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.95 $2.95

4.75%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.35 $2.35

61.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.28 $2.28

22.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.40 $2.40

8.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$7.45 $7.45

53.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$15.27 $15.27

2.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.83 $1.83

63.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$2.47 $2.47

71.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.70 $2.70

-0.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$46.79 $46.79

115.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.96 $2.96

-9.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.63 $1.63

4.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$27.46 $27.46

7.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.26 $1.26

-9.52%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.3K $33.3K

$27.5K $27.5K

21.31%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.6K $26.6K

-0.44%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$261 $261

$247 $247

5.77%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.4 $60.4

$67.2 $67.2

-10.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$78.9 $78.9

-3.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$44.89 $44.89

75.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

$17.21 $17.21

132.89%

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$14.93 $14.93

5.96%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,210 $2,210

$1,006 $1,006

119.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$29.2K $29.2K

1.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$59.5 $59.5

17.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$29.48 $29.48

76.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$88.7 $88.7

31.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$117 $117

18.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$2,277 $2,277

1.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,955 $1,955

-4.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$4,148 $4,148

13.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$3,303 $3,303

8.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$6,430 $6,430

19.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$3,234 $3,234

55.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$4,054 $4,054

60.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

28.40%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for San Clemente, CA: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,321 in Seattle, WA and $2,277 in San Clemente, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 61% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $99.0 in San Clemente, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $542 vs $416 per month, with San Clemente, CA cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Seattle, WA vs San Clemente, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Clemente, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 61% higher in Seattle, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $2,277 in San Clemente, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,621 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,353 in San Clemente, CA – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Clemente, CA runs roughly 115% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. San Clemente, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, San Clemente, CA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and San Clemente, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find San Clemente, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.