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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,621 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,334 in Santa Rosa, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,548 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,894 in Santa Rosa, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,476 per month in Seattle, WA vs $6,455 in Santa Rosa, CA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 9% more than Santa Rosa, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Seattle, WA and Santa Rosa, CA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 172%, Santa Rosa, CA by 151%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$22.87 $22.87

9.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$79.4 $79.4

48.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$12.20 $12.20

12.79%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$4.91 $4.91

19.14%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.95 $2.95

3.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.91 $2.91

-17.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$7.56 $7.56

4.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$8.39 $8.39

-6.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.17 $1.17

18.80%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.75 $4.75

2.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$4.51 $4.51

14.86%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$5.37 $5.37

24.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$16.43 $16.43

53.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$11.21 $11.21

42.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$20.50 $20.50

-1.66%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$7.84 $7.84

-21.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.89 $2.89

-0.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$8.27 $8.27

-33.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$8.29 $8.29

-23.04%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.92 $3.92

-21.17%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.96 $3.96

-4.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.12 $3.12

-10.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.01 $2.01

29.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$12.06 $12.06

-5.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$12.13 $12.13

28.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.80 $1.80

66.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$2.67 $2.67

58.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.81 $2.81

-4.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$30.54 $30.54

230.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$4.02 $4.02

-33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.95 $1.95

-12.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$28.85 $28.85

2.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.27 $1.27

-10.24%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$34.7K $34.7K

-3.91%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$27.7K $27.7K

-4.31%

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

$261 $261

$241 $241

8.66%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$50.8 $50.8

18.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$73.9 $73.9

2.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$64.5 $64.5

22.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

$15.18 $15.18

164.03%

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$14.19 $14.19

11.49%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$1,864 $1,864

18.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$40.0K $40.0K

-25.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$58.7 $58.7

19.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$44.03 $44.03

18.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$109 $109

7.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$130 $130

7.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$2,297 $2,297

1.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,915 $1,915

-2.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$3,693 $3,693

28.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$3,160 $3,160

12.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$4,621 $4,621

65.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$4,829 $4,829

4.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$4,586 $4,586

42.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.52

-1.53%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Santa Rosa, CA: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $2,297 in Santa Rosa, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 42% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Seattle, WA versus $79.0 in Santa Rosa, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $542 vs $491 – making Santa Rosa, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Rosa, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 9% more than Santa Rosa, CA, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,431 per month in Seattle, WA and $5,001 in Santa Rosa, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Santa Rosa, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,621 in Seattle, WA and $3,334 in Santa Rosa, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 230% less in Santa Rosa, CA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,621 in Seattle, WA and $3,334 in Santa Rosa, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Santa Rosa, CA costs $3,334 versus $3,621 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Santa Rosa, CA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.