Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Chapel Hill, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Chapel Hill, NC

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 75% more expensive than Chapel Hill, NC without rent, and 41% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 53.7% more expensive than Chapel Hill, NC without rent, and 46% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Chapel Hill, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.58 $24.58
$15.29 $15.29
60.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119 $119
$78.7 $78.7
51.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.21 $14.21
$10.12 $10.12
40.42%
Cappuccino
$5.61 $5.61
$4.21 $4.21
33.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 $3.03
$2.42 $2.42
25.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 $2.41
$1.88 $1.88
28.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.61 $7.61
$6.05 $6.05
25.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.13 $8.13
$6.80 $6.80
19.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Chapel Hill, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 $1.36
$0.92 $0.92
47.83%
White Bread (500g)
$4.82 $4.82
$4.15 $4.15
16.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.34 $5.34
$4.35 $4.35
22.76%
Eggs
$6.82 $6.82
$4.62 $4.62
47.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.08 $25.08
$16.68 $16.68
50.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.14 $16.14
$14.20 $14.20
13.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.50 $20.50
$12.10 $12.10
69.42%
Apples (1kg)
$6.21 $6.21
$5.67 $5.67
9.52%
Banana (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$1.55 $1.55
85.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.32 $5.32
$6.04 $6.04
-11.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.55 $6.55
$4.00 $4.00
63.75%
Potato (1kg)
$3.20 $3.20
$2.76 $2.76
15.94%
Onion (1kg)
$3.76 $3.76
$2.74 $2.74
37.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.81 $2.81
$1.72 $1.72
63.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.64 $1.64
54.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.60 $11.60
$6.96 $6.96
66.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.70 $16.70
$12.11 $12.11
37.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$1.70 $1.70
75.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.34 $4.34
$2.29 $2.29
89.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Chapel Hill, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.83 $2.83
$2.06 $2.06
37.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$99.5 $99.5
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.92 $2.92
-8.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.83 $1.83
-9.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.48 $30.48
$29.95 $29.95
1.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 $1.15
$0.83 $0.83
38.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K $33.0K
$28.3K $28.3K
16.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.0K $25.0K
4.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Chapel Hill, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$270 $270
$138 $138
96.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.9 $61.9
$54.9 $54.9
12.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.1 $75.1
$73.1 $73.1
2.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Chapel Hill, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$80.5 $80.5
$41.17 $41.17
95.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.95 $40.95
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.91 $15.91
$9.86 $9.86
61.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Chapel Hill, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,264 $2,264
$1,345 $1,345
68.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.4K $29.4K
$24.3K $24.3K
21.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Chapel Hill, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.3 $69.3
$48.64 $48.64
42.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1 $53.1
$29.64 $29.64
79.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 $118
$87.1 $87.1
35.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$83.0 $83.0
73.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Chapel Hill, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,307 $2,307
$1,307 $1,307
76.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,878 $1,878
$1,479 $1,479
26.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,573 $4,573
$3,386 $3,386
35.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,483 $3,483
$2,652 $2,652
31.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,779 $7,779
$2,753 $2,753
182.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,269 $5,269
$2,749 $2,749
91.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Chapel Hill, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,536 $6,536
$4,812 $4,812
35.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.54
-1.83%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: February 28, 2026

Last update for Chapel Hill, NC: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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