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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,105 in Independence, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $3,060 in Independence, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $4,016 in Independence, MO.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 82% more expensive than in Independence, MO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Independence, MO 53% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$20.14 $20.14

22.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$74.9 $74.9

32.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$12.56 $12.56

20.14%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$5.41 $5.41

22.37%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.61 $2.61

19.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.04 $2.04

46.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$7.10 $7.10

14.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.31 $7.31

7.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.14 $1.14

2.63%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.24 $3.24

60.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.65 $4.65

37.63%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$4.23 $4.23

16.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$10.12 $10.12

112.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$9.39 $9.39

97.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$13.88 $13.88

66.07%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.39 $4.39

31.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.60 $1.60

17.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.37 $4.37

23.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$3.46 $3.46

82.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.24 $3.24

17.28%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.19 $3.19

2.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.87 $1.87

53.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.17 $2.17

24.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$8.24 $8.24

71.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$15.09 $15.09

-0.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.82 $1.82

139.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.94 $3.94

45.94%

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

$2.47 $2.47

4.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.27 $1.27

29.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$24.92 $24.92

19.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.96 $0.96

43.75%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.7K $35.7K

2.03%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$24.4K $24.4K

3.07%

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

$296 $296

$254 $254

16.77%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$64.4 $64.4

10.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$71.1 $71.1

23.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$15.24 $15.24

20.28%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$987 $987

210.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$19.3K $19.3K

58.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$58.0 $58.0

32.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$37.67 $37.67

43.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$98.0 $98.0

30.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$115 $115

43.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,038 $1,038

133.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$861 $861

124.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,062 $2,062

130.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$1,278 $1,278

180.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$1,507 $1,507

391.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$3,505 $3,505

80.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.12

4.90%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Independence, MO: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,038 in Independence, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 80% 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 $75.0 in Independence, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $361 per month, with Independence, MO 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, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Independence, MO differ by about 82% in total monthly costs ($3,836 vs $2,105 including rent). Independence, MO is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 80% 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 $1,038 in Independence, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 53% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,105 in Independence, MO – a 82% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,105 in Independence, MO versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Independence, MO but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Independence, MO the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Independence, MO are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Independence, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 82% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.