Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellevue, WA
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Bellevue leads 17 of 23 categories
Bellevue
Washington
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$149,551 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
150,606 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellevue, WA
Pros
82% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Homes cost $515k less ($1,139,500 vs $1,654,800)
Households earn $42,754 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3339.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $2,422/mo
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 47°F
Rent averages $195/mo less ($2,227 vs $2,422)
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 77°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Median income trails Bellevue by $42,754/yr
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellevue
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Bellevue
Median Income
$42,754
$149,551 vs $106,797/yr
Bellevue
Violent Crime
82% lower
138.6 vs 778.0 per 100k
Bellevue
Median Home Value
$515k less
$1,139,500 vs $1,654,800
Bellevue
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.2% unemployment
Bellevue
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 76.5°F vs 69.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellevue, WA | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,139,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,422⚠ High | $2,227⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,551 ✓ Higher | $106,797 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 29.9% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 67.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 94.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellevue School District | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,606 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellevue's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bellevue is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellevue leads 17 of 23 categories. Bellevue wins 17 and Santa Monica wins 6. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Bellevue to Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,139,500 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($149,551 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellevue, WA and Santa Monica, CA are about 958 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.