Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Independence, KS and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Independence, KS: $1,994 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $21,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

97

Cost of Living Index in Independence, KS
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Independence, KS Living Index
184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index

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Independence, KS

🇺🇸 United States

$1,994

/mo nomad

Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Independence, KS 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 Independence, KS and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,994 in Independence, KS versus $3,785 in Seattle, WA.

Independence, KS $1,994
Seattle, WA $3,785

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,959 in Independence, KS versus $5,688 in Seattle, WA.

Independence, KS $2,959
Seattle, WA $5,688

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,924 in Independence, KS versus $7,592 in Seattle, WA.

Independence, KS $3,924
Seattle, WA $7,592

Living in Independence, KS costs roughly 47% less than in Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Independence, KS 46% above, Seattle, WA 178% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$25.30 $25.30

-21.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.5 $76.5

$101 $101

-24.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.19 $11.19

$14.76 $14.76

-24.19%

Cappuccino

$5.20 $5.20

$6.50 $6.50

-20.00%

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

$2.60 $2.60

$3.21 $3.21

-19.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.14 $3.14

-37.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$7.97 $7.97

-23.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.10 $7.10

$8.13 $8.13

-12.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.17 $1.17

-13.68%

White Bread (500g)

$3.52 $3.52

$5.30 $5.30

-33.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$6.40 $6.40

-36.88%

Eggs

$4.19 $4.19

$5.06 $5.06

-17.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.54 $12.54

$18.71 $18.71

-32.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.34 $10.34

$18.72 $18.72

-44.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.14 $17.14

$22.88 $22.88

-25.09%

Apples (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$6.06 $6.06

-19.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.95 $1.95

-18.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.73 $3.73

$5.51 $5.51

-32.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$6.52 $6.52

-29.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$3.49 $3.49

-25.21%

Onion (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.29 $3.29

4.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.80 $2.80

-23.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.58 $2.58

-11.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.72 $8.72

$12.49 $12.49

-30.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$14.87 $14.87

1.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$4.19 $4.19

-52.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$5.80 $5.80

-43.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.09 $2.09

$3.05 $3.05

-31.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.4 $54.4

$106 $106

-48.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.58 $2.58

10.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.64 $1.64

0.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.18 $34.18

$30.12 $30.12

13.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.41 $1.41

-33.33%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$36.8K $36.8K

-23.88%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.6K $26.6K

-3.08%

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

$198 $198

$308 $308

-35.50%

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

$57.1 $57.1

$69.2 $69.2

-17.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.7 $70.7

$86.1 $86.1

-17.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.35 $40.35

$76.5 $76.5

-47.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.50 $35.50

Cinema Ticket

$14.19 $14.19

$18.02 $18.02

-21.25%

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

$1,347 $1,347

$2,746 $2,746

-50.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.9K $23.9K

$30.6K $30.6K

-22.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$79.2 $79.2

-32.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.41 $35.41

$54.3 $54.3

-34.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.3 $88.3

$127 $127

-30.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$159 $159

-28.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 $1,589

$2,508 $2,508

-36.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$688 $688

$1,938 $1,938

-64.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,560 $2,560

$5,117 $5,117

-49.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,047 $1,047

$3,542 $3,542

-70.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,731 $2,731

$7,374 $7,374

-62.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,381 $2,381

$5,002 $5,002

-52.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,370 $5,370

$6,470 $6,470

-17.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.89

-4.64%

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

Last update for Independence, KS: October 26, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Independence, KS

$688 34.5%

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2% 182% $1.3K

Groceries & Markets

Independence, KS

$388 19.5%

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5% 40.9% $159

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Independence, KS

$326 16.4%

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2% 41.9% $137

Eating Out

Independence, KS

$318 15.9%

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7% 27.8% $88

Clothing & Footwear

Independence, KS

$131 6.6%

Seattle, WA

$189 5% 44.5% $58

Getting Around

Independence, KS

$74 3.7%

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4% 74.7% $55

Sport & Entertainment

Independence, KS

$69 3.5%

Seattle, WA

$112 3% 63.7% $44

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,589 in Independence, KS and $2,508 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 20% 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: $76 in Independence, KS vs $101 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $388 vs $547 per month, with Independence, KS cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Independence, KS

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🕒 Local time

19:34 7:34 PM

17:34 5:34 PM

2 h behind Independence, KS

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

117,213

737,015

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Independence, KS Seattle, WA 2,450 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Independence, KS
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

Independence, KS vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Independence, KS wins on cost – living expenses run 47% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Independence, KS the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Independence, KS. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,589 in Independence, KS versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Independence, KS – a meal for two runs $76 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Independence, KS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.