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

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 14.1% more expensive than Santa Barbara, CA without rent, and 2.6% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 35.8% more expensive than Santa Barbara, CA without rent, and 2.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.11 $25.11

$24.82 $24.82

1.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$100 $100

18.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.84 $13.84

$10.17 $10.17

36.09%

Cappuccino

$5.8 $5.8

$5.62 $5.62

3.20%

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

$2.95 $2.95

$2.73 $2.73

8.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.1 $2.1

19.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.81 $7.81

$8.16 $8.16

-4.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.84 $7.84

$9.1 $9.1

-13.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.3 $1.3

3.08%

White Bread (500g)

$4.98 $4.98

$4.89 $4.89

1.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$4.83 $4.83

10.77%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$5.43 $5.43

27.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.8 $24.8

$12.51 $12.51

98.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.74 $15.74

$11.62 $11.62

35.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.84 $20.84

$14.26 $14.26

46.14%

Apples (1kg)

$6.05 $6.05

$6.24 $6.24

-3.04%

Banana (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.91 $1.91

43.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$3.84 $3.84

42.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$5.35 $5.35

20.56%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$3.31 $3.31

-6.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.04 $3.04

21.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.18 $2.18

27.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.02 $2.02

24.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$13.02 $13.02

-10.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.15 $17.15

$15.26 $15.26

12.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.76 $1.76

67.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$4.07 $4.07

2.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.8 $2.8

$1.8 $1.8

55.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$65.2 $65.2

54.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$5.82 $5.82

-53.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2 $2

-17.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.13 $30.13

$50.9 $50.9

-40.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.22 $1.22

-4.92%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$28.5K $28.5K

17.02%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.93%

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

$271 $271

$201 $201

34.78%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$54.1 $54.1

14.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.2 $75.2

$72.4 $72.4

3.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.4 $78.4

$66.1 $66.1

18.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.04 $41.04

$18.29 $18.29

124.38%

Cinema Ticket

$15.89 $15.89

$12.64 $12.64

25.71%

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

$2,248 $2,248

$1,445 $1,445

55.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29K $29K

$37.3K $37.3K

-22.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.5 $69.5

$68.4 $68.4

1.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$41.33 $41.33

27.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$77.7 $77.7

53.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$146 $146

-2.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,376 $2,376

$2,643 $2,643

-10.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$2,296 $2,296

-20.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,702 $4,702

$5,146 $5,146

-8.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,474 $3,474

$4,439 $4,439

-21.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,928 $6,928

$10.4K $10.4K

-33.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,224 $5,224

$9,888 $9,888

-47.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$5,242 $5,242

23.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.68

-3.89%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Santa Barbara, CA: October 29, 2025

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