How Much It Costs To Live Comfortably in 50 West Coast Cities

For millions of Americans, the West Coast simply is the best coast. From the cultural history of sunny California to surfing in Hawaii, the rich musical traditions of Oregon (especially Portland), skiing in Colorado to plentiful hiking opportunities in Washington State, there’s something for almost everyone. 

But picking a place to live requires more than simply deciding whether you want to wax up your surfboard, pay homage to the greats of grunge or take in the glitz of Tinseltown. You’ll need to determine the amount of money that will allow you to live comfortably while paying your rent or meeting other basic needs. 

Fortunately, GOBankingRates looked at certain key costs in popular cities across West Coast states to give you a basic rundown of the costs you’ll need to plan for every month. 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $1,639
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $462
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $486
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $356
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $398

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $1,960
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $470
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $424
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $313
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $591

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,003
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $470
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $518
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $312
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $421 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,147
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $473
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $496
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $255
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $522 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,206
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $472
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $466
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $309
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $453 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,189
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $473
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $499
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $321
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $407

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $473
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $473 
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $425
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $321
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $419 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,197
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $470
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $412
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $296
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $737 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,352
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $473
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $417
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $318
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $487 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,315 
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $477
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $495
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $332
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $415 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,437
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $479
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $438
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $320
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $361 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $1,782
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $642
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $624
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $503
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $536 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,282
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $474
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $412
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $306
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $738 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,315
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $476
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $513
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $342
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $458 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,216
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $471
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $454
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $426
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $639 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,232
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $470
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $447
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $423
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $644  

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $1,707
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $632
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $624
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $508
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $790 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,187
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $472
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $562
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $412
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $546 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,392 
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $476
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $452
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $310
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $596 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,409
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $476
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $466
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $312
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $560 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,317
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $474
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $468
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $302
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $715 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,284
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $478
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $513
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $337
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $676 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,450
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $477
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $452
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $301
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $600 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,635
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $483
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $422
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $300
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $462  

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,530
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $478
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $452
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $298
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $602 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,570
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $476
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $430
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $249
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $704 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,702
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $479
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $458
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $255
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $465 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,643
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $478
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $432
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $273
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $584

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,462
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $465
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $423
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $439
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $702 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,615
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $478
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $453
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $301
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $600 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,163
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $641
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $620
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $445
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $644

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,543
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $494
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $491
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $413
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $646

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,720  
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $480
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $439
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $284
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $694 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,538
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $494
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $488
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $425
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $660 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,832
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $482
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $425
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $281
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $530 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,803
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $478
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $425
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $282
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $582 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,726
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $481
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $430
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $257
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $750 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,696
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $480
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $468
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $308
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $716  

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,272
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $581
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $611
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $410
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $801 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,773
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $479
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $430
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $265
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $753 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,676  
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $480
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $442
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $314
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $813

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,830
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $477
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $430
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $263
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $689

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,684
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $468
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $433
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $439
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $691 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,787
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $467
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $423
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $414
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $645  

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,283
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $639
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $620
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $513
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $705  

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $3,012
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $482
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $425
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $282
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $528 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,920
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $478
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $477
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $331
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $533 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,887 
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $481
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $444
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $282
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $755 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,771
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $498
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $507
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $373
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $746 

• Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,923
• Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $482
• Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $445
• Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $315
• Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $736 

Jacob Wade contributed to the reporting for this article.

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates found the amount needed to live comfortably in 20 West Coast cities. First GOBankingRates analyzed the 50 most populated cities from the West Coast states; AK, CA, WA, OR, and HI. For the city to qualify it had to have all the data points or it would be removed from the list. First GOBankingRates found the total population of each city as sourced from the US Census American Community Survey. For each city on the list a number of factors were found including; total population/households/median household income all sourced from the US Census American Community Survey, the average home value from January 2024 and average rent cost as sourced from the Zillow Home Value Index and the Zillow Observed Rental Index, cost of living indexes as sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces, the 30 year national fixed rate mortgage as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, and the livability index as sourced from AreaVibes. The final results were sorted from cheapest to most expensive in terms of total cost of living. All data was collected on and is up to date as of April 9th, 2024.