Cost of Living Comparison Between Myrtle Beach, SC and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Myrtle Beach, SC and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,742 per month in Myrtle Beach, SC vs $3,565 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,599 per month in Myrtle Beach, SC vs $5,605 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,457 per month in Myrtle Beach, SC vs $7,645 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Myrtle Beach, SC is about 23% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Myrtle Beach, SC and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Myrtle Beach, SC by 105%, Seattle, WA by 167%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.32 $16.32

$24.79 $24.79

-34.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.3 $81.3

$119 $119

-31.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.02 $10.02

$14.15 $14.15

-29.19%

Cappuccino

$4.60 $4.60

$5.71 $5.71

-19.44%

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

$2.52 $2.52

$2.93 $2.93

-13.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.52 $2.52

-23.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.49 $4.49

$7.89 $7.89

-43.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.68 $7.68

$8.05 $8.05

-4.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.36 $1.36

-25.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.32 $3.32

$5.07 $5.07

-34.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$5.25 $5.25

-16.95%

Eggs

$3.92 $3.92

$6.91 $6.91

-43.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.75 $13.75

$24.95 $24.95

-44.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.59 $8.59

$15.75 $15.75

-45.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.82 $16.82

$20.72 $20.72

-18.82%

Apples (1kg)

$5.03 $5.03

$6.19 $6.19

-18.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$2.79 $2.79

-54.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$5.52 $5.52

-25.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.47 $3.47

$6.42 $6.42

-45.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 $2.37

$3.16 $3.16

-25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$3.89 $3.89

-26.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.70 $2.70

-36.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 $1.33

$2.53 $2.53

-47.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.58 $7.58

$11.37 $11.37

-33.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.60 $12.60

$15.67 $15.67

-19.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.87 $2.87

-30.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$4.26 $4.26

-53.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.71 $2.71

-28.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.58 $2.58

13.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.63 $1.63

5.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.31 $30.31

$29.68 $29.68

2.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.14 $1.14

-33.33%

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

$19.9K $19.9K

$32.8K $32.8K

-39.54%

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

$19.0K $19.0K

$26.4K $26.4K

-28.05%

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

$138 $138

$264 $264

-47.64%

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

$54.4 $54.4

$61.6 $61.6

-11.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.1 $72.1

$75.5 $75.5

-4.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.93 $22.93

$78.0 $78.0

-70.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$10.13 $10.13

$16.11 $16.11

-37.12%

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

$1,333 $1,333

$2,212 $2,212

-39.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.8K $24.8K

$29.0K $29.0K

-14.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.96 $33.96

$69.3 $69.3

-51.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.65 $24.65

$53.8 $53.8

-54.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.8 $68.8

$119 $119

-42.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.8 $96.8

$142 $142

-31.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,489 $1,489

$2,357 $2,357

-36.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,727 $1,727

$1,834 $1,834

-5.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,932 $1,932

$4,686 $4,686

-58.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$3,571 $3,571

-44.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,453 $2,453

$7,539 $7,539

-67.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,310 $2,310

$5,046 $5,046

-54.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,612 $3,612

$6,473 $6,473

-44.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

6.42

-0.93%

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

Last update for Myrtle Beach, SC: July 11, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,489 in Myrtle Beach, SC versus $2,357 in Seattle, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 79% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Myrtle Beach, SC versus $119 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $543 – making Myrtle Beach, SC the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Myrtle Beach, SC vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,113 per month in Myrtle Beach, SC and $5,347 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Myrtle Beach, SC, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,742 in Myrtle Beach, SC and $3,565 in Seattle, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,333 per month in Myrtle Beach, SC and $2,212 in Seattle, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Myrtle Beach, SC, where all-in costs run around $2,742, than in Seattle, WA at $3,565. In Myrtle Beach, SC it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Myrtle Beach, SC – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Myrtle Beach, SC. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.