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

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 12.7% more expensive than San Diego, CA without rent, and 8.8% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 17.2% more expensive than San Diego, CA without rent, and 0.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
San Diego, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$22.95 $22.95
9.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$99.8 $99.8
18.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$14.8 $14.8
-6.49%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$6.07 $6.07
-4.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$3.08 $3.08
-4.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.59 $2.59
-3.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$7.88 $7.88
-0.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$8.95 $8.95
-12.40%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
San Diego, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.26 $1.26
6.35%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$4.5 $4.5
10.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$4.42 $4.42
21.04%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$5.04 $5.04
37.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$13.66 $13.66
81.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$12.77 $12.77
23.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$18.5 $18.5
12.65%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$4.6 $4.6
31.52%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.71 $1.71
60.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$3.92 $3.92
39.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$4.73 $4.73
36.36%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.98 $2.98
4.36%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.47 $2.47
49.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.27 $2.27
22.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.5 $2.5
0.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$12.2 $12.2
-4.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$15.29 $15.29
12.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.75 $1.75
68.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$2.54 $2.54
64.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
San Diego, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.56 $2.56
9.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$72.1 $72.1
39.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.97 $2.97
-9.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$2.07 $2.07
-20.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$27.69 $27.69
8.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.26 $1.26
-7.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$30.7K $30.7K
8.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.6K $26.6K
-1.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
San Diego, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$275 $275
-1.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$67 $67
-7.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$79.1 $79.1
-5.00%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
San Diego, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$66.6 $66.6
17.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
$24.66 $24.66
66.42%
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$15.76 $15.76
0.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
San Diego, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$1,625 $1,625
38.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$28.6K $28.6K
1.35%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
San Diego, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$58.1 $58.1
19.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$58.8 $58.8
-10.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$98 $98
21.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$116 $116
23.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
San Diego, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$2,808 $2,808
-15.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$2,412 $2,412
-24.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$5,005 $5,005
-6.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$4,128 $4,128
-15.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$9,534 $9,534
-27.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$6,940 $6,940
-24.73%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
San Diego, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$5,341 $5,341
21.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.39
0.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for San Diego, CA: October 29, 2025

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