Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Florence, SC: $2,269 a month against $3,800 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $18,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Florence, SC
🇺🇸 United States
$2,269
/mo nomad
Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,800
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Florence, SC and in Seattle, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Florence, SC and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,269 in Florence, SC versus $3,800 in Seattle, WA.

  • Florence, SC $2,269
  • Seattle, WA $3,800

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,219 in Florence, SC versus $5,702 in Seattle, WA.

  • Florence, SC $3,219
  • Seattle, WA $5,702

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,168 in Florence, SC versus $7,603 in Seattle, WA.

  • Florence, SC $4,168
  • Seattle, WA $7,603

Living in Florence, SC costs roughly 40% less than in Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Florence, SC 68% above, Seattle, WA 182% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Florence, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.21 $15.21
$25.32 $25.32
-39.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.4 $65.4
$101 $101
-35.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.04 $11.04
$14.85 $14.85
-25.66%
Cappuccino
$4.83 $4.83
$6.59 $6.59
-26.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$3.22 $3.22
-21.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$3.14 $3.14
-36.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.06 $5.06
$8.18 $8.18
-38.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.96 $6.96
$8.03 $8.03
-13.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Florence, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.21 $1.21
-20.66%
White Bread (500g)
$4.13 $4.13
$5.12 $5.12
-19.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.87 $5.87
$6.30 $6.30
-6.83%
Eggs
$5.11 $5.11
$4.90 $4.90
4.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.35 $11.35
$19.10 $19.10
-40.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.35 $14.35
$18.50 $18.50
-22.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.56 $25.56
$23.03 $23.03
10.99%
Apples (1kg)
$6.36 $6.36
$5.81 $5.81
9.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.95 $1.95
-12.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.05 $7.05
$5.29 $5.29
33.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.21 $6.21
$6.48 $6.48
-4.17%
Potato (1kg)
$4.13 $4.13
$3.57 $3.57
15.69%
Onion (1kg)
$6.10 $6.10
$3.15 $3.15
93.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.85 $2.85
-14.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.42 $2.42
26.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.97 $7.97
$12.75 $12.75
-37.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.24 $14.24
$14.99 $14.99
-5.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$4.17 $4.17
-50.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.02 $6.02
$5.99 $5.99
0.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Florence, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$3.04 $3.04
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$110 $110
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.06 $7.06
$2.55 $2.55
176.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 $1.83
$1.64 $1.64
11.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$29.58 $29.58
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.42 $1.42
-27.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K $35.1K
$35.7K $35.7K
-1.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$25.6K $25.6K
-0.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Florence, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$281 $281
$299 $299
-5.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.2 $56.2
$70.8 $70.8
-20.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.52 $41.52
$88.3 $88.3
-52.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Florence, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$79.5 $79.5
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.37 $35.37
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.85 $14.85
$17.12 $17.12
-13.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Florence, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,316 $1,316
$3,013 $3,013
-56.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$31.6K $31.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Florence, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.47 $40.47
$77.2 $77.2
-47.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.27 $30.27
$55.1 $55.1
-45.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 $107
$126 $126
-15.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 $70.6
$163 $163
-56.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Florence, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 $978
$2,464 $2,464
-60.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$962 $962
$1,956 $1,956
-50.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,497 $1,497
$4,711 $4,711
-68.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,362 $1,362
$3,550 $3,550
-61.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,530 $1,530
$7,346 $7,346
-79.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,555 $1,555
$5,048 $5,048
-69.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Florence, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,133 $3,133
$6,286 $6,286
-50.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.85
-4.09%

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

Last update for Florence, SC: October 10, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Florence, SC
$962
Seattle, WA
$2K 103% $994
Groceries & Markets
Florence, SC
$501
Seattle, WA
$542 8.2% $41
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Florence, SC
$379
Seattle, WA
$458 20.8% $79
Eating Out
Florence, SC
$270
Seattle, WA
$409 51.3% $139
Clothing & Footwear
Florence, SC
$112
Seattle, WA
$189 69.7% $78
Sport & Entertainment
Florence, SC
$30 *
Seattle, WA
$114 283% $84
Getting Around
Florence, SC
$16 *
Seattle, WA
$133 721% $117

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Florence, SC and $2,464 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 101% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $65.0 in Florence, SC vs $101 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $501 vs $542 per month, with Florence, SC cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Florence, SC
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🕒 Local time
01:31 1:31 AM
22:31 10:31 PM
3 h behind Florence, SC
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
40,184
737,015
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Florence, SC Seattle, WA 3,820 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Florence, SC
  • Seattle, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Florence, SC vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Florence, SC or Seattle, WA?
Florence, SC wins on cost – living expenses run 67% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Florence, SC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Florence, SC or in Seattle, WA?
On paper, salaries run 101% lower in Seattle, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Florence, SC compared to Seattle, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $978 in Florence, SC versus $2,464 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Florence, SC and in Seattle, WA?
Childcare runs $1,316 in Florence, SC versus $3,013 in Seattle, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Florence, SC and in Seattle, WA?
Dining out is cheaper in Florence, SC – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Florence, SC or in Seattle, WA?
At $2,269 in Florence, SC versus $3,800 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Florence, SC but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Florence, SC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Florence, SC or Seattle, WA?
Both work as nomad bases, but Florence, SC delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,269 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Florence, SC hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Florence, SC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Florence, SC vs other spots: cost of living compared

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