Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Columbia, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Columbia, MO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,057 in Columbia, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $2,840 in Columbia, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $3,623 in Columbia, MO.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 87% more expensive than in Columbia, MO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Columbia, MO 50% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$16.09 $16.09

53.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$73.0 $73.0

35.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$12.88 $12.88

17.16%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$4.75 $4.75

39.37%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.60 $2.60

20.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.14 $2.14

39.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$5.11 $5.11

58.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$5.53 $5.53

41.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.08 $1.08

8.33%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$2.93 $2.93

77.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.29 $4.29

49.18%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$3.28 $3.28

49.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$11.95 $11.95

79.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$10.06 $10.06

84.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$14.34 $14.34

60.74%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.08 $4.08

41.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.37 $1.37

37.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.47 $4.47

20.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$4.65 $4.65

35.48%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.71 $2.71

40.22%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.68 $2.68

21.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.68 $1.68

70.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.14 $2.14

26.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$8.24 $8.24

71.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$16.44 $16.44

-8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.98 $1.98

120.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$2.27 $2.27

153.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.70 $4.70

-45.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.02 $1.02

61.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$22.24 $22.24

34.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.00 $1.00

38.00%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$37.4K $37.4K

-2.68%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.0K $25.0K

0.24%

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

$296 $296

$182 $182

62.66%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$45.57 $45.57

56.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$58.8 $58.8

49.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$29.98 $29.98

171.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

$23.73 $23.73

50.44%

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$15.06 $15.06

21.71%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,187 $1,187

158.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$13.3K $13.3K

130.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$50.3 $50.3

53.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$32.99 $32.99

63.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$95.5 $95.5

33.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$87.2 $87.2

89.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,235 $1,235

95.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$903 $903

113.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$1,811 $1,811

162.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$1,177 $1,177

204.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$1,979 $1,979

274.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$1,989 $1,989

154.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$3,970 $3,970

59.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.12

4.90%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Columbia, MO: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,235 in Columbia, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 59% 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: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $73.0 in Columbia, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $362 per month, with Columbia, MO 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 Columbia, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Columbia, MO is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 87% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 59% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,235 in Columbia, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,067 in Seattle, WA versus $1,187 in Columbia, MO. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Columbia, MO – a meal for two runs $73.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,057 in Columbia, MO versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Columbia, MO but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Columbia, MO the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Columbia, MO 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.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Columbia, MO are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Columbia, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.