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 $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,620 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,544 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,840 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,427 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,060 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 40% 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 173%, North Charleston, SC by 95%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$18.18 $18.18

39.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$85.0 $85.0

42.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$9.90 $9.90

42.53%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$6.21 $6.21

-6.28%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.52 $2.52

18.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.34 $2.34

2.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$5.86 $5.86

31.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$8.05 $8.05

-2.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.95 $0.95

41.05%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$4.13 $4.13

18.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.05 $3.05

68.52%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$3.90 $3.90

68.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$13.70 $13.70

79.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$12.41 $12.41

27.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$15.11 $15.11

33.29%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$6.74 $6.74

-6.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.63 $1.63

75.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.55 $4.55

16.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.78 $5.78

10.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.82 $2.82

13.83%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.89 $2.89

32.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.96 $1.96

39.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.38 $2.38

8.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$7.39 $7.39

57.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$15.27 $15.27

3.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.83 $1.83

57.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.65 $2.65

65.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.45 $3.45

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$30.77 $30.77

221.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.05 $3.05

-12.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.51 $1.51

12.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$19.63 $19.63

51.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.84 $0.84

35.71%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$29.1K $29.1K

13.25%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.14%

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

$268 $268

$211 $211

26.77%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$64.7 $64.7

-5.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$73.3 $73.3

3.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$42.19 $42.19

85.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$12.08 $12.08

30.96%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$763 $763

195.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$14.5K $14.5K

105.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$60.7 $60.7

16.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$43.93 $43.93

20.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$95.1 $95.1

23.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

-0.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,903 $1,903

21.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,290 $1,290

43.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$1,965 $1,965

141.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$1,996 $1,996

78.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,863 $2,863

171.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,815 $2,815

90.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$4,349 $4,349

51.18%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for North Charleston, SC: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,903 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 51% 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 $121 in Seattle, WA versus $85 in North Charleston, SC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $539 vs $413 – 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 40% 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 $5,491 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,930 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 30% 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 $121 in Seattle, WA and $85.0 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 $3,661 in Seattle, WA and $2,620 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 $2,620 versus $3,661 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.