Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and West Hollywood, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and West Hollywood, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $3,203 in West Hollywood, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $5,100 in West Hollywood, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $6,998 in West Hollywood, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 12% more expensive than West Hollywood, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, West Hollywood, CA 139% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$20.17 $20.17

22.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$99.0 $99.0

18.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$14.12 $14.12

-2.48%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.79 $5.79

-1.38%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.72 $2.72

12.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.94 $1.94

28.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$8.65 $8.65

-9.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$10.09 $10.09

-21.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.15 $1.15

17.39%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.12 $4.12

22.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.05 $5.05

6.73%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$6.87 $6.87

-0.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$10.71 $10.71

134.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$16.88 $16.88

-6.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$19.20 $19.20

7.24%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$3.52 $3.52

74.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.96 $1.96

43.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.09 $4.09

34.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.77 $4.77

41.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.94 $2.94

7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.56 $2.56

49.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.45 $1.45

85.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.24 $2.24

17.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$11.78 $11.78

-1.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$14.86 $14.86

5.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.55 $2.55

14.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.19 $3.19

32.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.01 $2.01

40.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.07 $3.07

-15.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$28.80 $28.80

4.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.28 $1.28

-7.03%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$23.7K $23.7K

38.08%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.7K $24.7K

5.94%

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

$263 $263

$180 $180

45.86%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$45.99 $45.99

32.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$71.5 $71.5

6.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$42.25 $42.25

88.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$17.94 $17.94

-9.31%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,221 $1,221

86.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$23.7K $23.7K

23.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$61.3 $61.3

11.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$35.31 $35.31

47.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$89.5 $89.5

29.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$149 $149

-3.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$2,888 $2,888

-19.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,800 $1,800

3.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$6,077 $6,077

-23.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$3,987 $3,987

-12.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,719 $2,719

185.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,664 $2,664

96.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$6,562 $6,562

0.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.49

-1.08%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for West Hollywood, CA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $2,888 in West Hollywood, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 1% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $99.0 in West Hollywood, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $440 per month, with West Hollywood, 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 West Hollywood, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

West Hollywood, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 1% more on average, 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $2,888 in West Hollywood, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $1,221 in West Hollywood, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in West Hollywood, CA – a meal for two runs $99.0 versus $118 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. West Hollywood, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, West Hollywood, 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 West Hollywood, 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 West Hollywood, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.