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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,604 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,544 in Burlington, NC, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,549 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,692 in Burlington, NC, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,494 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,841 in Burlington, NC, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 42% more than Burlington, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Burlington, NC sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 170%, Burlington, NC by 90%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$19.30 $19.30

28.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$73.6 $73.6

65.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$11.14 $11.14

25.85%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.17 $5.17

7.54%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.61 $2.61

16.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.02 $2.02

18.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$6.08 $6.08

30.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$7.12 $7.12

13.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.05 $1.05

31.43%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$3.43 $3.43

44.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$4.28 $4.28

25.00%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$4.08 $4.08

61.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$12.30 $12.30

102.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$11.25 $11.25

41.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$15.41 $15.41

31.15%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$5.00 $5.00

23.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.64 $1.64

68.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.14 $4.14

29.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.77 $4.77

36.69%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.77 $2.77

15.88%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.80 $2.80

33.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.04 $2.04

39.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.11 $2.11

24.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$9.63 $9.63

21.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$14.17 $14.17

9.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.79 $1.79

58.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$3.42 $3.42

24.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.98 $1.98

39.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.59 $3.59

-27.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.57 $1.57

5.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$29.70 $29.70

0.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.90 $0.90

26.67%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$29.4K $29.4K

12.84%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

0.30%

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

$270 $270

$184 $184

46.25%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$52.5 $52.5

13.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$67.2 $67.2

10.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$43.13 $43.13

80.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$13.44 $13.44

17.41%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$1,323 $1,323

72.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.6K $23.6K

26.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$50.1 $50.1

39.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$40.63 $40.63

28.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$88.0 $88.0

33.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$110 $110

29.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,621 $1,621

43.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$1,328 $1,328

43.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,665 $2,665

78.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$2,257 $2,257

53.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$2,788 $2,788

176.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$2,406 $2,406

107.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 19, 2026

Last update for Burlington, NC: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $1,621 in Burlington, NC. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in Seattle, WA versus $74.0 in Burlington, NC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $541 vs $384 – making Burlington, NC 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,604 in Seattle, WA, $2,544 in Burlington, NC – roughly 42% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,407 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,816 in Burlington, NC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Burlington, NC, 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 $3,604 in Seattle, WA and $2,544 in Burlington, NC. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,279 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,323 in Burlington, NC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,604 in Seattle, WA and $2,544 in Burlington, NC. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,544 in Burlington, NC to $3,604 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Burlington, NC. 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.