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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,524 in San Francisco, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $6,566 in San Francisco, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $8,608 in San Francisco, CA, rent included.

Seattle, WA is about 20% cheaper than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Seattle, WA and San Francisco, CA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, San Francisco, CA by 238%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$25.26 $25.26

-1.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$131 $131

-10.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$14.76 $14.76

-6.71%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.99 $5.99

-4.67%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$3.34 $3.34

-8.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.56 $2.56

-2.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$7.93 $7.93

-1.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$8.11 $8.11

-2.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.47 $1.47

-8.16%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$5.16 $5.16

-1.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.70 $6.70

-19.55%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$6.24 $6.24

9.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$23.76 $23.76

5.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$15.14 $15.14

4.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$23.76 $23.76

-13.34%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$7.19 $7.19

-14.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.88 $2.88

-2.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$5.37 $5.37

2.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$7.69 $7.69

-12.35%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.77 $3.77

-16.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.96 $3.96

-3.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.79 $2.79

-3.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.83 $2.83

-6.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$13.93 $13.93

-16.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.20 $15.20

3.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.53 $2.53

15.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.25 $3.25

30.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.02 $3.02

-6.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$93.3 $93.3

7.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.11 $4.11

-36.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.98 $1.98

-13.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$38.33 $38.33

-21.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.28 $1.28

-7.03%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$35.6K $35.6K

-8.18%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.6K $25.6K

1.82%

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

$263 $263

$225 $225

16.50%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$63.5 $63.5

-4.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$66.8 $66.8

13.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$97.3 $97.3

-18.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$12.45 $12.45

220.40%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$16.76 $16.76

-2.92%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$3,149 $3,149

-27.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$38.6K $38.6K

-24.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$67.8 $67.8

1.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$45.33 $45.33

14.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$101 $101

14.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$148 $148

-2.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$3,349 $3,349

-30.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$2,760 $2,760

-32.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$5,323 $5,323

-13.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$4,574 $4,574

-24.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$10.8K $10.8K

-28.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$9,239 $9,239

-43.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$7,632 $7,632

-13.31%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for San Francisco, CA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $3,349 in San Francisco, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 15% higher in San Francisco, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Seattle, WA versus $131 in San Francisco, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $563 – making Seattle, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Francisco, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – San Francisco, CA is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,397 per month in Seattle, WA and $6,785 in San Francisco, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Seattle, WA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 3% more in San Francisco, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Seattle, WA and $131 in San Francisco, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $4,524 in San Francisco, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Seattle, WA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Seattle, WA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Francisco, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.