Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and North Charleston, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and North Charleston, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,621 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,684 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,548 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,863 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,476 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,042 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 35% more than North Charleston, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and North Charleston, SC sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 172%, North Charleston, SC by 102%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$17.97 $17.97

39.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$85.9 $85.9

37.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$10.06 $10.06

36.78%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$6.53 $6.53

-10.41%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.62 $2.62

16.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.34 $2.34

2.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$6.01 $6.01

31.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.93 $0.93

49.46%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.07 $4.07

19.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$3.05 $3.05

69.84%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$3.82 $3.82

75.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$13.93 $13.93

81.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$12.36 $12.36

28.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$14.97 $14.97

34.67%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$6.65 $6.65

-6.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.69 $1.69

70.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$4.48 $4.48

22.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$5.53 $5.53

15.37%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.91 $2.91

6.19%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.89 $2.89

31.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.03 $2.03

37.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.38 $2.38

9.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$7.43 $7.43

53.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$15.32 $15.32

1.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.86 $1.86

60.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$2.72 $2.72

55.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.47 $3.47

-22.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$30.45 $30.45

231.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.92 $2.92

-8.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.46 $1.46

16.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$20.27 $20.27

45.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.79 $0.79

44.30%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$29.8K $29.8K

11.75%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.7K $25.7K

3.31%

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

$261 $261

$214 $214

21.98%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$63.5 $63.5

-5.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$73.2 $73.2

3.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$42.40 $42.40

85.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$12.23 $12.23

29.35%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$758 $758

191.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$14.2K $14.2K

109.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$62.0 $62.0

12.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$43.81 $43.81

18.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$93.2 $93.2

25.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$1,968 $1,968

17.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,323 $1,323

41.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$1,967 $1,967

140.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$1,990 $1,990

79.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$2,817 $2,817

171.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$2,814 $2,814

78.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$4,299 $4,299

51.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.49

-1.08%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for North Charleston, SC: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $1,968 in North Charleston, 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 52% 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 $86.0 in North Charleston, SC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $542 vs $411 – making North Charleston, 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 North Charleston, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 35% more than North Charleston, SC, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,431 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,027 in North Charleston, SC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 32% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Seattle, WA and $86.0 in North Charleston, SC. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,621 in Seattle, WA and $2,684 in North Charleston, SC. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. North Charleston, SC costs $2,684 versus $3,621 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with North Charleston, 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.