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

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 65.1% more expensive than Santa Maria, CA without rent, and 14.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 81.2% more expensive than Santa Maria, CA without rent, and 35.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$20.18 $20.18
24.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$68.9 $68.9
71.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$11.29 $11.29
22.59%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$4.76 $4.76
21.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.45 $2.45
20.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.01 $2.01
24.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$6.11 $6.11
27.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$8.16 $8.16
-3.92%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$0.97 $0.97
38.14%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$2.72 $2.72
83.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$4.76 $4.76
12.39%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$3.59 $3.59
92.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$10.26 $10.26
141.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$8.37 $8.37
88.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$17.21 $17.21
21.09%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$3.81 $3.81
58.79%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.71 $1.71
60.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$3.48 $3.48
57.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$3.25 $3.25
98.46%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.07 $3.07
1.30%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.07 $2.07
78.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.78 $1.78
56.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.31 $1.31
92.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$11 $11
5.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$15.26 $15.26
12.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.71 $1.71
71.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.31 $3.31
26.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$1.94 $1.94
44.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$3.49 $3.49
-23.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.81 $1.81
-8.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$24.6 $24.6
22.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.23 $1.23
-5.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$36.8K $36.8K
-9.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$29.4K $29.4K
-10.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$166 $166
63.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$51.1 $51.1
20.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$85.4 $85.4
-11.94%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$43.52 $43.52
80.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$14.55 $14.55
9.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$992 $992
126.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$12.9K $12.9K
125.60%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$55.2 $55.2
25.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$39.73 $39.73
32.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$73 $73
63.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$78.1 $78.1
82.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$2,257 $2,257
5.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$2,063 $2,063
-11.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$3,376 $3,376
39.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$3,138 $3,138
10.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$7,992 $7,992
-13.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$7,900 $7,900
-33.87%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$4,387 $4,387
47.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.51
-1.38%

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 Maria, CA: October 28, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.