Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Starkville, MS Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Starkville, MS

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,604 in Seattle, WA versus $2,458 in Starkville, MS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $3,050 in Starkville, MS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,494 in Seattle, WA versus $3,642 in Starkville, MS.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 47% more expensive than in Starkville, MS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Starkville, MS 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$16.72 $16.72

48.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$50.8 $50.8

139.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$6.81 $6.81

105.87%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.57 $4.57

21.66%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.33 $2.33

30.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.91 $1.91

25.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$4.11 $4.11

93.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.87 $6.87

17.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.91 $0.91

51.65%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$2.69 $2.69

84.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$2.77 $2.77

93.14%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$4.34 $4.34

51.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$8.26 $8.26

201.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$9.02 $9.02

76.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$15.70 $15.70

28.73%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$3.71 $3.71

66.31%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.59 $1.59

73.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$2.85 $2.85

88.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.44 $4.44

46.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.21 $2.21

45.25%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.30 $2.30

63.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.63 $1.63

74.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.58 $1.58

65.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$7.85 $7.85

48.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$12.27 $12.27

26.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.72 $1.72

64.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$3.19 $3.19

33.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.95 $1.95

41.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$5.08 $5.08

-48.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.66 $1.66

-0.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$17.80 $17.80

67.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.73 $0.73

56.16%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$34.9K $34.9K

-4.88%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.8K $26.8K

-3.32%

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

$270 $270

$177 $177

52.60%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$29.46 $29.46

102.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$64.1 $64.1

16.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$42.23 $42.23

84.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$7.88 $7.88

100.25%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$989 $989

130.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$8,454 $8,454

253.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$43.21 $43.21

61.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$37.30 $37.30

40.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$87.5 $87.5

34.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$129 $129

11.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$967 $967

141.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$1,334 $1,334

42.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,006 $2,006

137.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$1,298 $1,298

167.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$2,194 $2,194

251.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$2,169 $2,169

129.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

$4,181 $4,181

58.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.55

-1.98%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 19, 2026

Last update for Starkville, MS: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Seattle, WA and $967 in Starkville, MS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 59% 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: $122 in Seattle, WA vs $51.0 in Starkville, MS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $541 vs $319 per month, with Starkville, MS 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 Starkville, MS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Starkville, MS is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 59% 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: $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $967 in Starkville, MS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,279 in Seattle, WA versus $989 in Starkville, MS. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Starkville, MS – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $122 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,458 in Starkville, MS versus $3,604 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Starkville, MS but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Starkville, MS the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Starkville, MS is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Starkville, MS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.