CostIndexUSA

San Bernardino, CA vs Seattle, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableCA
San Bernardino
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent
WA
Seattle
111.1
overall index
$2,175/mo rent

San Bernardino is slightly cheaper than Seattle — 4.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in San Bernardino, you would need $83,500 in Seattle. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+17.0%
San Bernardino
129.3
Seattle
151.3
🛒 Groceries+2.6%
San Bernardino
101.4
Seattle
104
🚗 Transportation+5.6%
San Bernardino
106.3
Seattle
112.2
🏥 Healthcare+5.5%
San Bernardino
96.2
Seattle
101.5
Utilities37.6%
San Bernardino
148.6
Seattle
92.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in San Bernardino to see what you'd need to earn in Seattle to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Seattle, WA
$83,500
$3,500 more needed in Seattle

Formula: salary × (111.1 ÷ 106.4) = salary × 1.0442. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

San Bernardino, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Seattle, WA

Median Home Price
$730,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,175
Housing Index
151.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
28.0×

Seattle has 17.0% higher housing costs compared to San Bernardino.

Income & Job Market

San Bernardino, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
222,101
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsGovernmentRetailManufacturing

Seattle, WA

Median Household Income
$110,700
Per Capita Income
$63,100
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
737,255
Top Industries
TechnologyAerospaceHealthcareRetailLogistics

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

San Bernardino, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% of income left after rent (median)

Seattle, WA
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.