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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $3,616 in Santa Clarita, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $4,932 in Santa Clarita, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $6,248 in Santa Clarita, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 7% more expensive than in Santa Clarita, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Santa Clarita, CA 164% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$20.33 $20.33

23.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$99.2 $99.2

0.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$13.26 $13.26

13.57%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$5.81 $5.81

9.64%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.14 $3.14

-1.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.75 $2.75

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$7.89 $7.89

-1.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$8.98 $8.98

-8.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.12 $1.12

8.04%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.88 $3.88

28.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.74 $4.74

34.81%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.99 $4.99

2.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$17.23 $17.23

22.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$8.04 $8.04

128.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$16.86 $16.86

42.53%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.65 $4.65

26.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.89 $1.89

-0.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$3.02 $3.02

75.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$2.95 $2.95

119.32%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.32 $3.32

10.84%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.64 $2.64

27.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.06 $2.06

35.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.21 $2.21

16.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$11.53 $11.53

20.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$16.27 $16.27

-7.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.70 $1.70

151.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.23 $3.23

81.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.43 $2.43

20.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$27.21 $27.21

299.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.94 $2.94

-12.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.08 $2.08

-17.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$27.53 $27.53

10.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.24 $1.24

12.90%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$22.9K $22.9K

57.77%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

0.04%

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

$299 $299

$250 $250

20.00%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$55.3 $55.3

25.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$82.6 $82.6

6.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$36.34 $36.34

120.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

$25.41 $25.41

37.47%

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$16.80 $16.80

5.36%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,986 $1,986

52.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$36.0K $36.0K

-13.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$66.4 $66.4

16.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$27.02 $27.02

103.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$71.1 $71.1

80.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$110 $110

44.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$2,965 $2,965

-16.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$2,264 $2,264

-14.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$3,859 $3,859

23.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$3,092 $3,092

17.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$3,740 $3,740

102.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$4,227 $4,227

20.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$5,175 $5,175

20.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.13

5.22%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Santa Clarita, CA: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $2,965 in Santa Clarita, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 20% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $99.0 in Santa Clarita, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $390 per month, with Santa Clarita, 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 Clarita, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Clarita, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 20% 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $2,965 in Santa Clarita, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Santa Clarita, CA – a meal for two runs $99.0 versus $100 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 Clarita, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Santa Clarita, 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.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Santa Clarita, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Santa Clarita, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.