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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $2,498 in Beaufort, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $3,589 in Beaufort, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $4,679 in Beaufort, SC.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 47% more expensive than Beaufort, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Beaufort, SC 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$18.72 $18.72

35.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$88.2 $88.2

37.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$12.16 $12.16

16.04%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$4.74 $4.74

22.78%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.40 $2.40

24.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.02 $2.02

18.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$3.77 $3.77

105.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$4.05 $4.05

94.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.02 $1.02

31.37%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.38 $3.38

45.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.10 $3.10

65.81%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$4.09 $4.09

60.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$8.96 $8.96

175.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$6.02 $6.02

163.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$10.83 $10.83

85.96%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$4.48 $4.48

39.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.28 $1.28

123.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$3.17 $3.17

66.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$1.93 $1.93

231.09%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.47 $2.47

29.96%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.14 $2.14

78.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.03 $2.03

34.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.62 $2.62

-1.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$8.09 $8.09

43.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$14.82 $14.82

6.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.97 $1.97

46.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.32 $3.32

32.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.04 $2.04

35.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.93 $3.93

-32.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.45 $2.45

-30.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$24.73 $24.73

20.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.85 $0.85

34.12%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$26.3K $26.3K

25.13%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$20.8K $20.8K

24.92%

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

$268 $268

$92.7 $92.7

189.10%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$43.86 $43.86

38.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$60.7 $60.7

25.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$25.23 $25.23

209.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$9.85 $9.85

60.61%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,298 $1,298

73.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$11.2K $11.2K

165.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$56.0 $56.0

26.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$45.60 $45.60

16.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$87.8 $87.8

33.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$87.5 $87.5

58.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,627 $1,627

41.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,441 $1,441

28.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,838 $2,838

66.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,313 $2,313

53.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$3,645 $3,645

113.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$3,668 $3,668

45.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$3,827 $3,827

71.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.53

-1.68%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Beaufort, SC: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $1,627 in Beaufort, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 72% 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: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $88 in Beaufort, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $312 per month, with Beaufort, SC 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

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

Beaufort, SC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 72% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,627 in Beaufort, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 73% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,498 in Beaufort, SC – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Beaufort, SC is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Beaufort, SC is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Beaufort, SC 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.