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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 15.6% more expensive than Santa Monica, CA without rent, and 18.7% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 22.1% more expensive than Santa Monica, CA without rent, and 21.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$25.29 $25.29
-0.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$99.5 $99.5
19.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$12.3 $12.3
12.52%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$5.68 $5.68
2.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.88 $2.88
2.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.3 $2.3
9.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$8.59 $8.59
-9.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$9.32 $9.32
-15.88%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.18 $1.18
13.56%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$4.45 $4.45
11.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$4.49 $4.49
19.15%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$7.19 $7.19
-3.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$12.47 $12.47
98.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$13.7 $13.7
14.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$14.46 $14.46
44.12%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$5.37 $5.37
12.66%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.95 $1.95
41.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$3.97 $3.97
37.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$5.73 $5.73
12.57%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.98 $2.98
4.36%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.45 $2.45
50.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.82 $1.82
52.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.12 $2.12
18.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$10.83 $10.83
7.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$15.28 $15.28
12.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.53 $2.53
16.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$5.34 $5.34
-21.54%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.08 $2.08
34.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$81.5 $81.5
23.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$3.15 $3.15
-14.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.71 $1.71
-3.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$29.08 $29.08
3.61%
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
$23.8K $23.8K
39.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$25.5K $25.5K
3.06%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$190 $190
42.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$58.4 $58.4
5.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$67 $67
12.14%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$122 $122
-35.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
$44.73 $44.73
-8.25%
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$18.03 $18.03
-11.87%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$1,791 $1,791
25.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$14.7K $14.7K
96.85%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$62.8 $62.8
10.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$34.08 $34.08
54.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$102 $102
17.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$153 $153
-6.79%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$3,279 $3,279
-27.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$2,892 $2,892
-36.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$6,850 $6,850
-31.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$5,897 $5,897
-41.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$10.8K $10.8K
-35.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$8,171 $8,171
-36.07%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$7,229 $7,229
-10.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.49
-1.08%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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

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