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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,228 in Florence, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $3,158 in Florence, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $4,087 in Florence, SC.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 72% more expensive than in Florence, SC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Florence, SC 62% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$15.01 $15.01

64.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$65.2 $65.2

52.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$10.82 $10.82

39.46%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$4.66 $4.66

42.06%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.52 $2.52

24.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.02 $2.02

47.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$4.93 $4.93

64.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.98 $6.98

12.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.99 $0.99

18.18%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.16 $4.16

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$6.00 $6.00

6.67%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$5.34 $5.34

-8.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$11.45 $11.45

87.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$14.38 $14.38

29.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$25.45 $25.45

-9.43%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$6.68 $6.68

-13.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.73 $1.73

8.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$6.86 $6.86

-21.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$5.96 $5.96

5.70%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$4.11 $4.11

-7.54%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$5.88 $5.88

-44.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.43 $2.43

18.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$3.06 $3.06

-11.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$7.83 $7.83

80.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$14.74 $14.74

2.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.95 $1.95

123.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$6.00 $6.00

-4.17%

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

$7.17 $7.17

-64.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.90 $1.90

-13.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.97 $0.97

42.27%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.0K $35.0K

4.10%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$24.8K $24.8K

1.23%

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

$296 $296

$222 $222

33.51%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$54.9 $54.9

29.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$41.31 $41.31

112.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$14.80 $14.80

23.85%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,321 $1,321

132.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$40.78 $40.78

88.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$29.82 $29.82

80.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$104 $104

23.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$71.1 $71.1

131.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$969 $969

149.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$968 $968

99.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$1,510 $1,510

215.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$1,330 $1,330

169.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$1,554 $1,554

376.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$1,568 $1,568

222.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$3,139 $3,139

101.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.03

6.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Florence, SC: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $969 in Florence, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 101% 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 $65.0 in Florence, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $502 per month, with Florence, 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 Florence, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Florence, SC wins on cost – living expenses run 72% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Florence, SC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 101% 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 $969 in Florence, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,067 in Seattle, WA versus $1,321 in Florence, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Florence, SC – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,228 in Florence, SC versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Florence, SC but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Florence, SC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Florence, SC delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,228 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Florence, SC hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Florence, SC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.