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: $3,583 in Seattle, WA versus $2,555 in Independence, KS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,632 in Seattle, WA versus $3,748 in Independence, KS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,681 in Seattle, WA versus $4,940 in Independence, KS.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 40% more expensive than Independence, KS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Independence, KS 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.97 $24.97

$18.92 $18.92

31.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$73.8 $73.8

61.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.90 $13.90

$10.99 $10.99

26.48%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.07 $5.07

9.66%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.56 $2.56

19.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.01 $2.01

22.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$6.11 $6.11

30.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.01 $8.01

$6.98 $6.98

14.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.01 $1.01

32.67%

White Bread (500g)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.55 $3.55

42.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$4.46 $4.46

20.18%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$4.16 $4.16

58.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.31 $25.31

$12.23 $12.23

106.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$11.33 $11.33

42.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.30 $20.30

$15.18 $15.18

33.73%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$5.01 $5.01

19.16%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.57 $1.57

74.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$4.37 $4.37

22.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.61 $6.61

$4.78 $4.78

38.28%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.81 $2.81

15.66%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.91 $2.91

30.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.11 $2.11

29.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.20 $2.20

15.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$9.73 $9.73

16.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.28 $16.28

$15.16 $15.16

7.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.78 $1.78

60.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 $4.16

$3.28 $3.28

26.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.95 $1.95

37.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.1 $97.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 $2.71

$3.60 $3.60

-24.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.61 $1.61

7.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.46 $29.46

$29.53 $29.53

-0.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.91 $0.91

31.87%

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

$33.6K $33.6K

$29.9K $29.9K

12.45%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.06%

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

$266 $266

$189 $189

40.62%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$53.3 $53.3

13.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$67.7 $67.7

12.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.2 $79.2

$43.09 $43.09

83.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.51 $40.51

Cinema Ticket

$16.22 $16.22

$13.53 $13.53

19.88%

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

$2,280 $2,280

$1,298 $1,298

75.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$23.2K $23.2K

27.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 $69.6

$51.8 $51.8

34.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 $52.6

$40.47 $40.47

29.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$88.3 $88.3

35.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$113 $113

26.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,591 $1,591

49.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 $1,866

$1,332 $1,332

40.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,724 $4,724

$2,656 $2,656

77.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,510 $3,510

$2,236 $2,236

57.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,711 $7,711

$2,677 $2,677

188.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,381 $5,381

$2,331 $2,331

130.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,493 $6,493

$5,352 $5,352

21.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026

Last update for Independence, KS: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,378 in Seattle, WA and $1,591 in Independence, KS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 21% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $74.0 in Independence, KS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $544 vs $390 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 40% 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.

Seattle, WA pays 21% 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: $2,378 in Seattle, WA versus $1,591 in Independence, KS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,280 in Seattle, WA versus $1,298 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 $119 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,555 in Independence, KS versus $3,583 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Independence, KS but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Independence, KS the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Independence, KS delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,555 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 40% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.