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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 44% more expensive than Columbia, SC without rent, and 68.2% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 48.4% more expensive than Columbia, SC without rent, and 93.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Columbia, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$18.21 $18.21
37.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$60.5 $60.5
95.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$11.9 $11.9
16.30%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$3.82 $3.82
51.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.37 $2.37
24.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.86 $1.86
34.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$4.41 $4.41
77.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$5.6 $5.6
40.00%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Columbia, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$0.87 $0.87
54.02%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$2.61 $2.61
90.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$3.64 $3.64
46.98%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$4.26 $4.26
62.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$9.39 $9.39
164.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$12.99 $12.99
21.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$22.61 $22.61
-7.83%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$5.21 $5.21
16.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.84 $1.84
49.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$5.27 $5.27
3.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$3.27 $3.27
97.25%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.19 $3.19
-2.51%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$4.63 $4.63
-20.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.99 $1.99
39.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.89 $1.89
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$8.53 $8.53
36.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$14.84 $14.84
15.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.02 $2.02
45.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$2.64 $2.64
58.71%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Columbia, 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
$40.68 $40.68
147.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.03 $2.03
32.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.52 $1.52
8.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$18.06 $18.06
66.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$0.76 $0.76
52.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$30.4K $30.4K
9.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$25.6K $25.6K
2.68%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Columbia, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$218 $218
24.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$53.7 $53.7
15.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$60.2 $60.2
24.80%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Columbia, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$40.01 $40.01
96.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
$7.01 $7.01
485.45%
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$15.19 $15.19
4.61%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Columbia, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$1,431 $1,431
57.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$22.3K $22.3K
30.10%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Columbia, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$56.7 $56.7
22.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$35.31 $35.31
48.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$80.3 $80.3
48.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$116 $116
22.93%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Columbia, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$1,306 $1,306
81.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$904 $904
102.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$2,200 $2,200
113.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$1,290 $1,290
169.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$1,827 $1,827
279.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$1,750 $1,750
198.51%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Columbia, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$3,526 $3,526
83.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.54
-1.83%

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 Columbia, SC: October 29, 2025

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