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

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 25.6% more expensive than Santa Cruz, CA without rent, and 14.3% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 13.9% more expensive than Santa Cruz, CA without rent, and 0.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.11 $25.11

$22.44 $22.44

11.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$79.7 $79.7

48.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.84 $13.84

$12.36 $12.36

11.97%

Cappuccino

$5.8 $5.8

$5.85 $5.85

-0.85%

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

$2.95 $2.95

$3.41 $3.41

-13.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.54 $2.54

-1.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.81 $7.81

$6.93 $6.93

12.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.84 $7.84

$7.46 $7.46

5.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.43 $1.43

-6.29%

White Bread (500g)

$4.98 $4.98

$5.16 $5.16

-3.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$6.65 $6.65

-19.55%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$5.96 $5.96

15.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.8 $24.8

$23.24 $23.24

6.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.74 $15.74

$14.85 $14.85

5.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.84 $20.84

$23.7 $23.7

-12.07%

Apples (1kg)

$6.05 $6.05

$7.05 $7.05

-14.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.78 $2.78

-1.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$5.32 $5.32

2.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$7.49 $7.49

-13.89%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$3.88 $3.88

-19.85%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.93 $3.93

-6.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.9 $2.9

-4.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.86 $2.86

-11.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$14.16 $14.16

-17.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.15 $17.15

$12.02 $12.02

42.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.15 $2.15

36.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.67 $2.67

56.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.8 $2.8

$2.05 $2.05

36.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$65.2 $65.2

54.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$4.09 $4.09

-34.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.93 $1.93

-14.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.13 $30.13

$38.9 $38.9

-22.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.24 $1.24

-6.45%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$34.9K $34.9K

-4.51%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.5K $26.5K

-0.71%

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

$271 $271

$221 $221

22.73%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$47.05 $47.05

31.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.2 $75.2

$67.8 $67.8

10.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.4 $78.4

$60.2 $60.2

30.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.04 $41.04

Cinema Ticket

$15.89 $15.89

$17.04 $17.04

-6.75%

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

$2,248 $2,248

$3,225 $3,225

-30.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29K $29K

$38.5K $38.5K

-24.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.5 $69.5

$63.2 $63.2

10.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$46.64 $46.64

12.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$79.3 $79.3

50.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$115 $115

23.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,376 $2,376

$2,893 $2,893

-17.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$2,648 $2,648

-30.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,702 $4,702

$5,700 $5,700

-17.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,474 $3,474

$4,219 $4,219

-17.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,928 $6,928

$9,235 $9,235

-24.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,224 $5,224

$8,116 $8,116

-35.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$5,594 $5,594

15.71%

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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Santa Cruz, CA: October 27, 2025

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