Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Myrtle Beach, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Myrtle Beach, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,741 in Myrtle Beach, SC, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,568 in Myrtle Beach, SC, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,395 in Myrtle Beach, SC, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 31% more than Myrtle Beach, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Myrtle Beach, SC sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Myrtle Beach, SC by 105%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$16.27 $16.27

52.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$79.1 $79.1

48.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$10.14 $10.14

35.80%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.57 $4.57

24.95%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.43 $2.43

25.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.86 $1.86

34.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$4.56 $4.56

71.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.92 $7.92

-0.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.97 $0.97

39.18%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.22 $3.22

57.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.24 $4.24

27.12%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.99 $3.99

71.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$14.00 $14.00

79.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$8.67 $8.67

82.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$16.41 $16.41

25.47%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.12 $5.12

19.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.26 $1.26

123.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$3.96 $3.96

39.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$3.66 $3.66

84.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.31 $2.31

36.36%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.77 $2.77

37.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.79 $1.79

50.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.34 $1.34

97.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$7.41 $7.41

57.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$12.53 $12.53

25.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.09 $2.09

40.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$1.97 $1.97

115.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.04 $2.04

38.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.04 $3.04

-14.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.74 $1.74

-1.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$30.42 $30.42

-0.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.80 $0.80

48.75%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$20.3K $20.3K

61.29%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$19.2K $19.2K

36.00%

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

$263 $263

$140 $140

87.51%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$54.1 $54.1

12.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$71.1 $71.1

6.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$22.86 $22.86

248.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$10.15 $10.15

60.30%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,322 $1,322

72.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$24.6K $24.6K

19.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$33.04 $33.04

107.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$24.54 $24.54

111.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$68.8 $68.8

68.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$99.7 $99.7

43.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,496 $1,496

56.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,697 $1,697

9.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$1,997 $1,997

131.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$1,947 $1,947

78.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,409 $2,409

222.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,354 $2,354

122.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,659 $3,659

80.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.36

0.94%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Myrtle Beach, SC: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,496 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 81% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Seattle, WA versus $79.0 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $352 – making Myrtle Beach, SC the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Myrtle Beach, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,397 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,111 in Myrtle Beach, SC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Myrtle Beach, SC, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,741 in Myrtle Beach, SC. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,281 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,322 in Myrtle Beach, SC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,741 in Myrtle Beach, SC. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Myrtle Beach, SC – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Myrtle Beach, SC. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.