Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Independence, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Independence, KS

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $1,973 in Independence, KS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $2,943 in Independence, KS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $3,914 in Independence, KS.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 97% more expensive than in Independence, KS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Independence, KS 44% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$20.19 $20.19

23.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$74.0 $74.0

35.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$11.31 $11.31

33.16%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$5.19 $5.19

22.74%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.68 $2.68

14.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.99 $1.99

50.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$5.84 $5.84

33.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.41 $7.41

10.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.05 $1.05

15.24%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.46 $3.46

44.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$3.99 $3.99

60.15%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.15 $4.15

23.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$12.39 $12.39

69.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$13.08 $13.08

40.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$17.19 $17.19

39.79%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$5.01 $5.01

17.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.56 $1.56

20.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.30 $4.30

23.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.13 $5.13

26.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.48 $2.48

48.39%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.61 $2.61

28.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.18 $2.18

27.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.12 $2.12

21.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$9.23 $9.23

50.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$15.22 $15.22

-1.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.99 $1.99

115.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.40 $3.40

72.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.02 $2.02

44.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.40 $3.40

-24.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.51 $1.51

13.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$30.76 $30.76

-1.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.90 $0.90

55.56%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$35.7K $35.7K

1.13%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.6K $25.6K

-0.37%

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

$299 $299

$201 $201

49.24%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$56.5 $56.5

22.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$69.3 $69.3

26.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$42.13 $42.13

90.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$14.19 $14.19

24.74%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,430 $1,430

111.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$21.7K $21.7K

42.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$52.6 $52.6

47.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$38.50 $38.50

43.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$87.7 $87.7

46.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$113 $113

40.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,599 $1,599

55.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$705 $705

173.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,467 $2,467

92.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$1,056 $1,056

244.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$2,467 $2,467

207.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$2,170 $2,170

135.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$5,228 $5,228

18.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.12

5.39%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Independence, KS: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,599 in Independence, KS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 19% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $74.0 in Independence, KS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $403 per month, with Independence, KS 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 Independence, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Independence, KS wins on cost – living expenses run 97% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Independence, KS the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 19% 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,599 in Independence, KS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,020 in Seattle, WA versus $1,430 in Independence, KS. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Independence, KS – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $100 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Independence, KS is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Independence, KS delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,973 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Independence, KS hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Independence, KS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 97% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.