Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Westminster, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Westminster, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,634 in Seattle, WA versus $2,560 in Westminster, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,545 in Seattle, WA versus $3,749 in Westminster, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,456 in Seattle, WA versus $4,937 in Westminster, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 42% more expensive than Westminster, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Westminster, CA 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$19.67 $19.67

25.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$84.7 $84.7

39.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$10.09 $10.09

36.57%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.91 $4.91

14.26%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.60 $2.60

11.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.99 $1.99

23.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$7.03 $7.03

13.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.82 $6.82

20.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.07 $1.07

29.91%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.99 $3.99

21.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.15 $4.15

24.34%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$4.56 $4.56

44.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$10.67 $10.67

134.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$8.58 $8.58

83.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$14.36 $14.36

41.50%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$3.46 $3.46

80.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.83 $1.83

49.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$3.77 $3.77

41.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$5.39 $5.39

20.41%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.19 $3.19

-3.13%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$3.07 $3.07

25.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.40 $1.40

96.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.09 $2.09

22.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$9.61 $9.61

18.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$15.28 $15.28

1.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.77 $1.77

60.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.69 $4.69

-9.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.96 $1.96

37.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.02 $4.02

-36.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.80 $2.80

-38.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$32.29 $32.29

-6.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.24 $1.24

-7.26%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$23.4K $23.4K

42.16%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$23.9K $23.9K

10.66%

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

$263 $263

$202 $202

30.10%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$45.87 $45.87

31.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$59.2 $59.2

25.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$42.24 $42.24

90.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$14.05 $14.05

13.24%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,230 $1,230

85.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$40.4K $40.4K

-26.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$68.3 $68.3

2.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$40.23 $40.23

33.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$85.7 $85.7

38.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$84.2 $84.2

69.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$1,575 $1,575

46.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,374 $1,374

33.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$2,631 $2,631

78.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$2,213 $2,213

57.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

$2,608 $2,608

212.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

$2,060 $2,060

152.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.58

-2.43%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 7, 2026

Last update for Westminster, CA: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,312 in Seattle, WA and $1,575 in Westminster, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $85.0 in Westminster, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $538 vs $369 per month, with Westminster, 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 Westminster, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Westminster, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,452 in Seattle, WA and $3,840 in Westminster, CA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $1,575 in Westminster, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $1,230 in Westminster, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Westminster, CA – a meal for two runs $85.0 versus $119 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Westminster, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Westminster, 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 Westminster, 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 Westminster, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.