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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 28.5% more expensive than Charleston, SC without rent, and 23.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 32.8% more expensive than Charleston, SC without rent, and 37.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Charleston, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$17.95 $17.95
39.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$79.7 $79.7
48.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$9.9 $9.9
39.80%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$5.04 $5.04
15.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.42 $2.42
21.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.95 $1.95
28.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$5.9 $5.9
32.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$7.94 $7.94
-1.26%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Charleston, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1 $1
34.00%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$3.75 $3.75
32.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$3.22 $3.22
66.15%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$4.45 $4.45
55.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$13.9 $13.9
78.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$15.05 $15.05
4.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$17.03 $17.03
22.37%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$5.79 $5.79
4.49%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.66 $1.66
65.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$6.68 $6.68
-18.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$4.02 $4.02
60.45%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.67 $3.67
-15.26%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.76 $2.76
33.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.78 $1.78
56.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.87 $1.87
34.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$7.62 $7.62
52.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$17.74 $17.74
-3.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.78 $1.78
65.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.32 $3.32
26.20%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Charleston, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$1.96 $1.96
42.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$57.3 $57.3
76.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.91 $2.91
-7.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.53 $1.53
7.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$20.37 $20.37
47.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$0.84 $0.84
38.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$32.7K $32.7K
1.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$24.6K $24.6K
6.89%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Charleston, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$141 $141
92.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$54.8 $54.8
12.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$73.4 $73.4
2.43%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Charleston, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$29.53 $29.53
165.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
$18.1 $18.1
126.74%
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$13.29 $13.29
19.56%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Charleston, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$1,313 $1,313
71.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$24.2K $24.2K
19.74%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Charleston, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$49.68 $49.68
39.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$36.64 $36.64
43.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$94.6 $94.6
26.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$153 $153
-7.13%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Charleston, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$2,577 $2,577
-7.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$1,687 $1,687
8.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$4,414 $4,414
6.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$2,638 $2,638
31.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$4,656 $4,656
48.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$3,200 $3,200
63.27%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Charleston, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$4,603 $4,603
40.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.51
-1.38%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Charleston, SC: October 27, 2025

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