Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and San Marcos, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and San Marcos, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,360 in San Marcos, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $3,524 in San Marcos, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $4,688 in San Marcos, TX.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 63% more expensive than in San Marcos, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, San Marcos, TX 72% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$14.76 $14.76

67.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$59.5 $59.5

66.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$10.43 $10.43

44.68%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$4.73 $4.73

39.96%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.84 $2.84

10.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.73 $1.73

72.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$4.86 $4.86

67.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$5.97 $5.97

31.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.76 $0.76

53.95%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.33 $3.33

56.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$3.83 $3.83

67.10%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$2.81 $2.81

74.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$9.98 $9.98

115.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$9.42 $9.42

97.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$13.21 $13.21

74.49%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$6.28 $6.28

-7.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.13 $1.13

66.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$6.58 $6.58

-18.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$4.75 $4.75

32.63%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$4.01 $4.01

-5.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.00 $3.00

8.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.78 $1.78

61.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.84 $1.84

47.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$8.82 $8.82

60.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$13.89 $13.89

8.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.75 $1.75

149.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.86 $3.86

48.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.60 $4.60

-44.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.81 $1.81

-8.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$59.5 $59.5

-49.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.80 $0.80

72.50%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.5K $35.5K

2.56%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.0K $25.0K

0.35%

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

$296 $296

$133 $133

122.33%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$36.60 $36.60

94.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$52.7 $52.7

66.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$69.1 $69.1

17.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$11.60 $11.60

58.02%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$674 $674

355.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$18.1K $18.1K

68.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$56.7 $56.7

35.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$37.57 $37.57

43.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$82.2 $82.2

55.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$122 $122

35.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,328 $1,328

82.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,251 $1,251

54.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,825 $2,825

68.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$2,215 $2,215

61.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,399 $2,399

208.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$1,853 $1,853

172.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$3,101 $3,101

103.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.03

6.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for San Marcos, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,328 in San Marcos, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 104% 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: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $59.0 in San Marcos, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $364 per month, with San Marcos, TX 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 Marcos, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Marcos, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 63% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Marcos, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 104% 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: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,328 in San Marcos, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 52% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,360 in San Marcos, TX – a 63% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,360 in San Marcos, TX versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in San Marcos, TX but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes San Marcos, TX the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but San Marcos, TX delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,360 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes San Marcos, TX hard to pass up.

Expats usually find San Marcos, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.