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

🙂 Solo nomad: Columbia, SC is 30.5% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 40.5% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Columbia, SC is 32.6% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 48.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.21 $18.21

$25.11 $25.11

-27.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.5 $60.5

$118 $118

-48.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.9 $11.9

$13.84 $13.84

-14.02%

Cappuccino

$3.82 $3.82

$5.8 $5.8

-34.14%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.95 $2.95

-19.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.51 $2.51

-25.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.41 $4.41

$7.81 $7.81

-43.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.6 $5.6

$7.84 $7.84

-28.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.34 $1.34

-35.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.61 $2.61

$4.98 $4.98

-47.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.64 $3.64

$5.35 $5.35

-31.96%

Eggs

$4.26 $4.26

$6.91 $6.91

-38.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.39 $9.39

$24.8 $24.8

-62.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.99 $12.99

$15.74 $15.74

-17.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.61 $22.61

$20.84 $20.84

8.49%

Apples (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$6.05 $6.05

-13.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.75 $2.75

-33.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.27 $5.27

$5.47 $5.47

-3.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$6.45 $6.45

-49.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.11 $3.11

2.57%

Onion (1kg)

$4.63 $4.63

$3.69 $3.69

25.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.78 $2.78

-28.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.52 $2.52

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.53 $8.53

$11.64 $11.64

-26.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.84 $14.84

$17.15 $17.15

-13.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.94 $2.94

-31.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$4.19 $4.19

-36.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.8 $2.8

-30.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.68 $40.68

$101 $101

-59.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.68 $2.68

-24.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.65 $1.65

-7.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.06 $18.06

$30.13 $30.13

-40.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.16 $1.16

-34.48%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.4K $30.4K

$33.3K $33.3K

-8.88%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.3K $26.3K

-2.61%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$218 $218

$271 $271

-19.39%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$53.7 $53.7

$61.8 $61.8

-13.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$75.2 $75.2

-19.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.01 $40.01

$78.4 $78.4

-48.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.01 $7.01

$41.04 $41.04

-82.92%

Cinema Ticket

$15.19 $15.19

$15.89 $15.89

-4.41%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,431 $1,431

$2,248 $2,248

-36.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.3K $22.3K

$29K $29K

-23.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$69.5 $69.5

-18.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.31 $35.31

$52.5 $52.5

-32.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.3 $80.3

$120 $120

-32.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$142 $142

-18.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,306 $1,306

$2,376 $2,376

-45.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$904 $904

$1,829 $1,829

-50.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$4,702 $4,702

-53.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,290 $1,290

$3,474 $3,474

-62.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,827 $1,827

$6,928 $6,928

-73.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,750 $1,750

$5,224 $5,224

-66.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,526 $3,526

$6,473 $6,473

-45.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.42

1.87%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Columbia, SC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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