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: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $1,877 in Saint Charles, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $3,007 in Saint Charles, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $4,138 in Saint Charles, MO.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 95% more expensive than Saint Charles, MO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Saint Charles, MO 40% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$14.81 $14.81

70.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$50.9 $50.9

137.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$10.94 $10.94

28.98%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$3.98 $3.98

46.23%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.26 $2.26

31.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.46 $1.46

64.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$5.55 $5.55

39.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$5.91 $5.91

33.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.75 $0.75

78.67%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$2.25 $2.25

118.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.66 $2.66

93.23%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$2.68 $2.68

145.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$11.25 $11.25

119.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$6.16 $6.16

157.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$13.66 $13.66

47.44%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$3.27 $3.27

91.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.60 $1.60

78.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$3.41 $3.41

55.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$3.40 $3.40

87.94%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$1.05 $1.05

205.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.48 $2.48

54.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.48 $1.48

85.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.45 $1.45

77.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$10.21 $10.21

14.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$15.19 $15.19

3.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.13 $2.13

35.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.99 $3.99

10.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$4.91 $4.91

-43.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.45 $3.45

-22.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.52 $1.52

11.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$49.81 $49.81

-40.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.93 $0.93

22.58%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$30.0K $30.0K

9.85%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$22.9K $22.9K

13.32%

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

$268 $268

$216 $216

24.37%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$42.08 $42.08

44.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$62.2 $62.2

22.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$49.18 $49.18

58.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$12.12 $12.12

30.53%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,000 $1,000

125.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.8K $23.8K

24.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$44.18 $44.18

60.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$39.22 $39.22

35.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$85.8 $85.8

36.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$99.1 $99.1

39.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,502 $1,502

53.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$804 $804

130.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$1,735 $1,735

173.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$1,866 $1,866

90.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$4,338 $4,338

51.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.56

-2.13%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Saint Charles, MO: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $1,502 in Saint Charles, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 52% 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: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $51 in Saint Charles, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $294 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 95% in total monthly costs ($3,661 vs $1,877 including rent). Saint Charles, MO is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 52% more on average, 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: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,502 in Saint Charles, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 83% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA versus $1,877 in Saint Charles, MO – a 95% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,877 in Saint Charles, MO versus $3,661 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 95% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.