Cost of Living Comparison Between Jacksonville, NC and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Jacksonville, NC and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,551 in Jacksonville, NC versus $3,634 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,314 in Jacksonville, NC versus $5,545 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,077 in Jacksonville, NC versus $7,456 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Jacksonville, NC costs roughly 30% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Jacksonville, NC 90% above, Seattle, WA 170% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.69 $17.69

$24.77 $24.77

-28.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.7 $54.7

$119 $119

-53.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.14 $10.14

$13.78 $13.78

-26.42%

Cappuccino

$4.79 $4.79

$5.61 $5.61

-14.62%

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

$2.54 $2.54

$2.89 $2.89

-12.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.46 $2.46

-23.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.89 $4.89

$7.96 $7.96

-38.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.40 $6.40

$8.21 $8.21

-22.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.39 $1.39

-32.37%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 $2.15

$4.86 $4.86

-55.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$5.16 $5.16

-16.86%

Eggs

$4.50 $4.50

$6.61 $6.61

-31.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.96 $11.96

$25.06 $25.06

-52.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.41 $14.41

$15.77 $15.77

-8.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.76 $27.76

$20.32 $20.32

36.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$6.23 $6.23

-65.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$2.74 $2.74

-47.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$5.33 $5.33

-6.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.57 $3.57

$6.49 $6.49

-44.99%

Potato (1kg)

$7.58 $7.58

$3.09 $3.09

145.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.63 $3.63

$3.86 $3.86

-5.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.75 $2.75

23.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.55 $2.55

-25.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.59 $10.59

$11.35 $11.35

-6.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.78 $13.78

$15.48 $15.48

-10.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.84 $2.84

-39.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.94 $6.94

$4.24 $4.24

63.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.69 $2.69

-24.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.57 $2.57

-4.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.72 $1.72

37.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.61 $28.61

$30.17 $30.17

-5.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.15 $1.15

-32.17%

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

$28.9K $28.9K

$33.3K $33.3K

-13.31%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$26.5K $26.5K

3.71%

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

$170 $170

$263 $263

-35.37%

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

$56.1 $56.1

$60.2 $60.2

-6.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.0 $78.0

$74.3 $74.3

5.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.24 $38.24

$80.6 $80.6

-52.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$13.91 $13.91

$15.91 $15.91

-12.57%

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

$911 $911

$2,281 $2,281

-60.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$29.8K $29.8K

-22.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.91 $29.91

$70.0 $70.0

-57.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.91 $39.91

$53.8 $53.8

-25.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 $80.7

$119 $119

-32.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.9 $74.9

$143 $143

-47.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,204 $1,204

$2,312 $2,312

-47.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,369 $1,369

$1,829 $1,829

-25.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,588 $1,588

$4,694 $4,694

-66.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,551 $1,551

$3,491 $3,491

-55.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,914 $1,914

$8,154 $8,154

-76.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,840 $6,840

$5,200 $5,200

31.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,231 $2,231

$6,564 $6,564

-66.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.33

6.42

-1.40%

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

Last update for Jacksonville, NC: June 7, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,204 in Jacksonville, NC and $2,312 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 194% 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: $55.0 in Jacksonville, NC vs $119 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $431 vs $538 per month, with Jacksonville, NC cheaper across the board.

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

Jacksonville, NC vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jacksonville, NC and Seattle, WA differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($2,551 vs $3,634 including rent). Jacksonville, NC is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Seattle, WA earns 194% less. 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: $1,204 in Jacksonville, NC versus $2,312 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $911 in Jacksonville, NC versus $2,281 in Seattle, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Jacksonville, NC – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $119 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,551 in Jacksonville, NC versus $3,634 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Jacksonville, NC but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Jacksonville, NC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Jacksonville, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.