Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Santa Ana, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Santa Ana, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $3,213 in Santa Ana, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $4,730 in Santa Ana, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $6,247 in Santa Ana, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 12% more expensive than Santa Ana, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Santa Ana, CA 140% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$17.68 $17.68

40.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$85.5 $85.5

37.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$14.78 $14.78

-6.83%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.04 $5.04

13.29%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.67 $2.67

14.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.03 $2.03

23.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.90 $6.90

13.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.09 $7.09

11.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.08 $1.08

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.12 $4.12

22.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.67 $4.67

15.42%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$6.95 $6.95

-1.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$12.36 $12.36

102.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$15.89 $15.89

-0.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$14.73 $14.73

39.78%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.45 $4.45

37.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.65 $1.65

70.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.05 $4.05

36.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$5.49 $5.49

22.77%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.13 $3.13

0.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.85 $2.85

34.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.00 $2.00

34.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.18 $2.18

21.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$10.80 $10.80

7.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$16.29 $16.29

-3.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.98 $1.98

47.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.42 $3.42

23.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.96 $1.96

43.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$68.2 $68.2

46.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$6.77 $6.77

-61.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.79 $2.79

-38.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$29.49 $29.49

2.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.25 $1.25

-4.80%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$23.4K $23.4K

39.55%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.1K $24.1K

8.22%

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

$263 $263

$160 $160

63.75%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$46.46 $46.46

31.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$58.9 $58.9

28.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$25.42 $25.42

213.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$9.98 $9.98

299.70%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$13.84 $13.84

17.56%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,192 $1,192

91.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$23.0K $23.0K

27.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$47.75 $47.75

43.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$33.55 $33.55

54.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$83.9 $83.9

38.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$83.6 $83.6

71.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$2,171 $2,171

7.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,918 $1,918

-2.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,993 $2,993

54.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$3,190 $3,190

8.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$4,517 $4,517

71.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$4,248 $4,248

23.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,146 $3,146

110.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.58

-2.43%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Santa Ana, CA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $2,171 in Santa Ana, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 110% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $85.0 in Santa Ana, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $434 per month, with Santa Ana, CA 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 Santa Ana, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Ana, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 110% more on average, 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $2,171 in Santa Ana, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Santa Ana, CA – a meal for two runs $85.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Santa Ana, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Santa Ana, CA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Santa Ana, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.