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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,160 in Columbia, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,066 in Columbia, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $3,971 in Columbia, SC.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 67% more expensive than Columbia, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Columbia, SC 61% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$18.02 $18.02

37.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$60.1 $60.1

95.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$11.90 $11.90

15.71%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$3.78 $3.78

51.06%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.31 $2.31

32.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.88 $1.88

32.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$4.52 $4.52

73.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$5.37 $5.37

46.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.91 $0.91

48.35%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.69 $2.69

88.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.51 $3.51

53.56%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.18 $4.18

63.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$9.66 $9.66

159.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$12.71 $12.71

24.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$22.47 $22.47

-8.37%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.01 $5.01

22.55%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.75 $1.75

61.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$5.23 $5.23

5.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$3.13 $3.13

115.34%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.32 $3.32

-5.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$4.60 $4.60

-16.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.99 $1.99

35.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.88 $1.88

40.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$8.84 $8.84

31.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.33 $15.33

2.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.95 $1.95

50.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.72 $2.72

55.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.04 $2.04

38.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$40.48 $40.48

147.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.96 $1.96

32.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.47 $1.47

17.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$18.23 $18.23

65.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.75 $0.75

58.67%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$30.0K $30.0K

9.05%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.25%

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

$263 $263

$223 $223

17.70%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$53.7 $53.7

13.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$59.2 $59.2

28.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$39.79 $39.79

100.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$7.10 $7.10

461.83%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$15.03 $15.03

8.25%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,453 $1,453

57.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$22.9K $22.9K

28.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$54.6 $54.6

25.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$34.82 $34.82

49.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$78.0 $78.0

48.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$115 $115

24.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,325 $1,325

76.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$918 $918

102.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,217 $2,217

108.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$1,307 $1,307

166.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,103 $2,103

269.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$1,640 $1,640

219.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,216 $3,216

105.73%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Columbia, SC: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,325 in Columbia, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 106% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $60.0 in Columbia, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $394 per month, with Columbia, SC 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, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Columbia, SC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 67% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 106% more on average, 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,325 in Columbia, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Columbia, SC – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,160 in Columbia, SC versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Columbia, SC but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Columbia, SC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Columbia, SC 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.

Expats usually find Columbia, SC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.