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: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $3,311 in West Hollywood, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $5,351 in West Hollywood, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $7,392 in West Hollywood, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 16% more expensive than in West Hollywood, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, West Hollywood, CA 141% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$24.87 $24.87

-0.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$102 $102

-2.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$14.91 $14.91

1.21%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$6.11 $6.11

8.35%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$3.32 $3.32

-5.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.73 $2.73

9.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$7.93 $7.93

2.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$9.82 $9.82

-20.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.31 $1.31

-10.69%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.86 $4.86

7.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.73 $4.73

35.31%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$6.06 $6.06

-18.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$12.15 $12.15

76.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$13.21 $13.21

40.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$19.97 $19.97

15.42%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.49 $4.49

28.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.83 $1.83

2.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.32 $4.32

24.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$5.23 $5.23

20.46%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.39 $3.39

12.09%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.62 $2.62

24.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.99 $1.99

44.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.15 $2.15

26.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$11.70 $11.70

20.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$15.29 $15.29

-1.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.16 $2.16

101.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$2.77 $2.77

107.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.92 $2.92

-11.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.86 $1.86

-11.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$27.58 $27.58

8.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.56 $1.56

-11.54%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$37.0K $37.0K

-1.42%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$26.0K $26.0K

-3.32%

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

$296 $296

$255 $255

16.23%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$75.2 $75.2

-5.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$78.0 $78.0

12.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$19.42 $19.42

-5.61%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,711 $1,711

79.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$31.9K $31.9K

-4.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$70.7 $70.7

8.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$57.4 $57.4

-5.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$113 $113

12.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$144 $144

14.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$2,955 $2,955

-18.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,824 $1,824

5.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$5,989 $5,989

-20.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$3,951 $3,951

-9.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$983 $983

653.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$6,597 $6,597

-4.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for West Hollywood, CA: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $2,955 in West Hollywood, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

West Hollywood, CA pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $102 in West Hollywood, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $554 vs $440, with West Hollywood, CA cheaper for home cooking.

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 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 4% lower in West Hollywood, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $2,955 in West Hollywood, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,067 in Seattle, WA versus $1,711 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 $102 versus $99.0 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 16% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.