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

🙂 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 5.1% cheaper than San Francisco, CA without rent, and 23% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 1.7% cheaper than San Francisco, CA without rent, and 14.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.25 $25.25
$25.34 $25.34
-0.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120 $120
$131 $131
-8.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.79 $13.79
$14.87 $14.87
-7.26%
Cappuccino
$5.61 $5.61
$5.84 $5.84
-3.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 $3.00
$3.30 $3.30
-9.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$2.58 $2.58
-3.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.85 $7.85
$8.05 $8.05
-2.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$7.94 $7.94
-0.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 $1.36
$1.52 $1.52
-10.53%
White Bread (500g)
$4.86 $4.86
$4.95 $4.95
-1.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$6.89 $6.89
-22.93%
Eggs
$6.61 $6.61
$6.24 $6.24
5.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.48 $24.48
$23.28 $23.28
5.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.02 $16.02
$14.99 $14.99
6.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.57 $20.57
$23.59 $23.59
-12.80%
Apples (1kg)
$6.10 $6.10
$7.10 $7.10
-14.08%
Banana (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.85 $2.85
1.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$5.20 $5.20
7.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.74 $6.74
$7.51 $7.51
-10.25%
Potato (1kg)
$3.20 $3.20
$3.78 $3.78
-15.34%
Onion (1kg)
$3.79 $3.79
$3.89 $3.89
-2.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.84 $2.84
-4.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$2.83 $2.83
-7.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.71 $11.71
$14.02 $14.02
-16.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.81 $15.81
$18.17 $18.17
-12.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 $2.85
$2.64 $2.64
7.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 $4.38
$3.18 $3.18
37.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.69 $2.69
$3.09 $3.09
-12.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.9 $98.9
$93.2 $93.2
6.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.63 $2.63
$4.09 $4.09
-35.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$2.05 $2.05
-19.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.86 $29.86
$38.49 $38.49
-22.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.26 $1.26
-9.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K $32.6K
$35.1K $35.1K
-7.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$26.0K $26.0K
1.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$264 $264
$218 $218
21.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.6 $60.6
$64.0 $64.0
-5.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.1 $76.1
$66.5 $66.5
14.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.0 $78.0
$99.5 $99.5
-21.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.01 $40.01
$12.57 $12.57
218.30%
Cinema Ticket
$16.19 $16.19
$16.68 $16.68
-2.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,253 $2,253
$3,190 $3,190
-29.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.7K $29.7K
$38.2K $38.2K
-22.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.5 $70.5
$67.7 $67.7
4.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.8 $51.8
$46.41 $46.41
11.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 $119
$99.5 $99.5
19.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143 $143
$149 $149
-4.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,381 $2,381
$3,389 $3,389
-29.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,887 $1,887
$2,781 $2,781
-32.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,752 $4,752
$5,473 $5,473
-13.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,585 $3,585
$4,468 $4,468
-19.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,850 $7,850
$11.1K $11.1K
-29.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,213 $5,213
$9,550 $9,550
-45.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,446 $6,446
$7,146 $7,146
-9.80%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for San Francisco, CA: April 13, 2026

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

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