Seattle spends more money than any other metro area in the West, though it doesn't earn the most



Keep clicking to see how Seattleites spend their cash... Seattle earns the second-most of any metro area in the West, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but spends the most.

Keep clicking to see how Seattleites spend their cash... Seattle earns the second-most of any metro area in the West, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but spends the most. Photo: Matteo Colombo / Getty Images, Getty Images Photo: Matteo Colombo / Getty Images, Getty Images Image 1 of / 95 Caption Close Seattle spends more money than any other metro area in the West, though it doesn't earn the most 1 / 95 Back to Gallery

You don't have to spend much time in the Emerald City to know it's not cheap to live in Seattle.

True, salaries here are often higher than elsewhere. A recent analysis by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Seattleites make the second-most among major metro areas in the West.

But the analysis found we also spend the most -- even more than San Francisco, the highest earning metro area in the West.

But if Seattle isn't the top-earning city, how is it the top spending and where are the discrepancies?

RELATED: Seattle's expensive: How it nickels and dimes city dwellers

The largest expenditure for all cities, as you might imagine, is housing. In this category, Seattle is actually spending less than San Francisco, with an average of $26,965 spent per year in Seattle compared to $32,656 in San Francisco, home to the most expensive housing in the West. San Diego is also topping Seattle on housing costs with $28,595 spent on housing (or, about $2,383 per month).

Looking closer, however, Seattle tops the West in spending on items like transportation, especially with vehicle purchases and other vehicle expenditures, as well as apparel. Seattle also comes in second in alcohol expenses, behind only San Diego.

Do you spend more than a typical Seattleite? Click through the slideshow above to see how metro area residents spent their cash from 2016-2017, according to BLS.