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: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $2,129 in Independence, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $3,145 in Independence, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $4,161 in Independence, MO.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Independence, MO 59% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$20.07 $20.07

23.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$73.7 $73.7

61.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$11.36 $11.36

24.56%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.10 $5.10

11.96%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.97 $2.97

-1.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.02 $2.02

24.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$6.03 $6.03

30.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$6.89 $6.89

16.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.16 $1.16

17.24%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.41 $3.41

48.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$4.45 $4.45

17.98%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$3.73 $3.73

85.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$11.41 $11.41

118.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$10.34 $10.34

52.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$12.95 $12.95

60.00%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.40 $4.40

40.68%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.49 $1.49

87.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.85 $5.85

-5.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$6.66 $6.66

-3.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.56 $2.56

23.44%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.74 $3.74

4.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.00 $2.00

35.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.50 $2.50

1.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$8.75 $8.75

29.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$14.98 $14.98

4.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.72 $1.72

66.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$4.52 $4.52

-5.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.05 $2.05

32.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.04 $3.04

-15.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.51 $1.51

7.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$21.18 $21.18

40.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.75 $0.75

52.00%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$34.9K $34.9K

-5.99%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

0.23%

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

$264 $264

$252 $252

4.75%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$53.7 $53.7

14.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$66.1 $66.1

14.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$43.47 $43.47

79.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$13.87 $13.87

16.15%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$905 $905

144.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$24.2K $24.2K

19.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$53.7 $53.7

29.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$38.22 $38.22

40.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$95.5 $95.5

24.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$113 $113

25.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$992 $992

137.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$850 $850

115.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$2,335 $2,335

100.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$1,298 $1,298

175.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$1,515 $1,515

397.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$3,480 $3,480

85.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.5

-1.23%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Independence, MO: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $992 in Independence, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 86% 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, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $392 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 67% in total monthly costs ($3,565 vs $2,129 including rent). Independence, MO is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 86% 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: $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $992 in Independence, MO. 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.

All in, you'll spend $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,129 in Independence, MO – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,129 in Independence, MO versus $3,565 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 67% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.