Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Saint Charles, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Saint Charles, MO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,114 in Saint Charles, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $3,420 in Saint Charles, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $4,725 in Saint Charles, MO.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 81% more expensive than in Saint Charles, MO, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Saint Charles, MO 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$15.13 $15.13

63.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$61.7 $61.7

60.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$13.59 $13.59

11.04%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$4.81 $4.81

37.63%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.97 $2.97

5.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.12 $1.12

166.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$4.95 $4.95

64.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.12 $6.12

28.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.99 $0.99

18.18%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$2.41 $2.41

115.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$5.31 $5.31

20.53%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$3.81 $3.81

28.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$12.17 $12.17

76.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$15.53 $15.53

19.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$18.06 $18.06

27.63%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$3.57 $3.57

62.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.70 $2.70

-30.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.49 $5.49

-2.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$6.63 $6.63

-4.98%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.43 $3.43

10.79%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.93 $2.93

11.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.98 $1.98

44.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$3.04 $3.04

-10.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$12.19 $12.19

16.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$12.91 $12.91

16.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.09 $2.09

108.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$4.61 $4.61

24.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$4.87 $4.87

-37.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.52 $3.52

-26.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.06 $2.06

-19.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$17.60 $17.60

69.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.84 $0.84

64.29%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$36.7K $36.7K

-0.67%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$26.6K $26.6K

-5.46%

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

$296 $296

$227 $227

30.36%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$52.9 $52.9

34.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$63.9 $63.9

37.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$50.1 $50.1

62.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$14.56 $14.56

25.89%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,000 $1,000

206.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$12.4K $12.4K

146.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$65.2 $65.2

18.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$32.36 $32.36

66.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$64.5 $64.5

97.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$98.6 $98.6

67.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,519 $1,519

59.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$811 $811

138.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$1,937 $1,937

145.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$1,932 $1,932

85.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$4,128 $4,128

53.12%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Saint Charles, MO: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,519 in Saint Charles, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 53% 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 $62.0 in Saint Charles, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $434 per month, with Saint Charles, 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 Saint Charles, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Saint Charles, MO differ by about 81% in total monthly costs ($3,836 vs $2,114 including rent). Saint Charles, MO is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 53% 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 $1,519 in Saint Charles, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 28% 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 $2,114 in Saint Charles, MO – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,114 in Saint Charles, MO versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Saint Charles, MO but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Saint Charles, 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 Saint Charles, 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 Saint Charles, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.