Cost of Living Comparison Between Charleston, SC and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Charleston, SC and Seattle, WA

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Charleston, SC is 22.2% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 19.1% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Charleston, SC is 24.7% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 27.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Charleston, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.95 $17.95
$25.11 $25.11
-28.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.7 $79.7
$118 $118
-32.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.9 $9.9
$13.84 $13.84
-28.47%
Cappuccino
$5.04 $5.04
$5.8 $5.8
-13.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.95 $2.95
-17.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.51 $2.51
-22.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.9 $5.9
$7.81 $7.81
-24.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.94 $7.94
$7.84 $7.84
1.28%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Charleston, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1 $1
$1.34 $1.34
-25.37%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$4.98 $4.98
-24.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.22 $3.22
$5.35 $5.35
-39.81%
Eggs
$4.45 $4.45
$6.91 $6.91
-35.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.9 $13.9
$24.8 $24.8
-43.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.05 $15.05
$15.74 $15.74
-4.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.03 $17.03
$20.84 $20.84
-18.28%
Apples (1kg)
$5.79 $5.79
$6.05 $6.05
-4.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 $1.66
$2.75 $2.75
-39.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.68 $6.68
$5.47 $5.47
22.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.02 $4.02
$6.45 $6.45
-37.67%
Potato (1kg)
$3.67 $3.67
$3.11 $3.11
18.01%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$3.69 $3.69
-25.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.78 $2.78
-35.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.52 $2.52
-25.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.62 $7.62
$11.64 $11.64
-34.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.74 $17.74
$17.15 $17.15
3.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.94 $2.94
-39.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 $3.32
$4.19 $4.19
-20.76%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Charleston, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.8 $2.8
-30.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57.3 $57.3
$101 $101
-43.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.68 $2.68
8.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.65 $1.65
-7.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.37 $20.37
$30.13 $30.13
-32.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.16 $1.16
-27.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K $32.7K
$33.3K $33.3K
-1.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K $24.6K
$26.3K $26.3K
-6.45%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Charleston, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$141 $141
$271 $271
-48.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.8 $54.8
$61.8 $61.8
-11.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.4 $73.4
$75.2 $75.2
-2.37%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Charleston, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.53 $29.53
$78.4 $78.4
-62.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.1 $18.1
$41.04 $41.04
-55.90%
Cinema Ticket
$13.29 $13.29
$15.89 $15.89
-16.36%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Charleston, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,313 $1,313
$2,248 $2,248
-41.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.2K $24.2K
$29K $29K
-16.49%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Charleston, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.68 $49.68
$69.5 $69.5
-28.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.64 $36.64
$52.5 $52.5
-30.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.6 $94.6
$120 $120
-20.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153 $153
$142 $142
7.68%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Charleston, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,577 $2,577
$2,376 $2,376
8.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,687 $1,687
$1,829 $1,829
-7.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,414 $4,414
$4,702 $4,702
-6.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,638 $2,638
$3,474 $3,474
-24.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,656 $4,656
$6,928 $6,928
-32.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,200 $3,200
$5,224 $5,224
-38.75%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Charleston, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,603 $4,603
$6,473 $6,473
-28.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.42
1.40%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Charleston, SC: October 27, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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