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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 4.3% cheaper than San Francisco, CA without rent, and 20.6% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 4.8% cheaper than San Francisco, CA without rent, and 12.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$24.77 $24.77
1.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$131 $131
-9.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$14.79 $14.79
-6.42%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$5.84 $5.84
-0.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$3.28 $3.28
-10.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.48 $2.48
1.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$7.9 $7.9
-1.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$8.12 $8.12
-3.45%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.47 $1.47
-8.84%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$5.18 $5.18
-3.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$6.61 $6.61
-19.06%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$5.97 $5.97
15.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$23.1 $23.1
7.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$15.26 $15.26
3.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$23.64 $23.64
-11.84%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$6.94 $6.94
-12.82%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.77 $2.77
-0.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$5.32 $5.32
2.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$7.41 $7.41
-12.96%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.85 $3.85
-19.22%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$3.85 $3.85
-4.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.89 $2.89
-3.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.87 $2.87
-12.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$14.06 $14.06
-17.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$17.87 $17.87
-4.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.64 $2.64
11.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.29 $3.29
27.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$3.04 $3.04
-7.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$95.1 $95.1
6.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$4.11 $4.11
-34.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$2.05 $2.05
-19.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$39.34 $39.34
-23.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.33 $1.33
-12.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$34.7K $34.7K
-3.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$225 $225
20.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$64.6 $64.6
-4.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$67.6 $67.6
11.15%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$100 $100
-21.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
$12.65 $12.65
224.43%
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$17.04 $17.04
-6.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$3,218 $3,218
-30.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$38.1K $38.1K
-23.81%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$67.7 $67.7
2.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$45.18 $45.18
16.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$101 $101
18.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$150 $150
-5.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$3,301 $3,301
-28.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$2,747 $2,747
-33.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$5,371 $5,371
-12.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$4,500 $4,500
-22.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$10.8K $10.8K
-36.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$9,649 $9,649
-45.86%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$7,014 $7,014
-7.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.36
0.94%

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 Francisco, CA: October 29, 2025

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