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: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,461 in Starkville, MS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,039 in Starkville, MS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $3,617 in Starkville, MS.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 46% more expensive than Starkville, MS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Starkville, MS 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$16.37 $16.37

51.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$49.71 $49.71

136.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$6.95 $6.95

98.13%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.47 $4.47

27.74%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.42 $2.42

26.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.84 $1.84

35.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$4.12 $4.12

90.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.17 $7.17

9.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.96 $0.96

40.63%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.66 $2.66

90.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.65 $2.65

103.40%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.29 $4.29

59.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$7.98 $7.98

214.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$8.98 $8.98

76.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$15.14 $15.14

36.00%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$3.78 $3.78

62.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.66 $1.66

69.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$2.87 $2.87

91.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.48 $4.48

50.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.21 $2.21

42.53%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.29 $2.29

66.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.69 $1.69

59.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.51 $1.51

74.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$7.93 $7.93

46.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$12.40 $12.40

26.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.72 $1.72

70.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.25 $3.25

30.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.03 $2.03

38.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.87 $4.87

-46.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.69 $1.69

1.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$18.19 $18.19

66.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.80 $0.80

48.75%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$35.7K $35.7K

-8.35%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.4K $26.4K

-1.01%

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

$263 $263

$177 $177

48.57%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$30.31 $30.31

100.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$64.4 $64.4

17.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$42.22 $42.22

88.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$7.77 $7.77

109.40%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$987 $987

131.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$8,390 $8,390

249.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$42.31 $42.31

62.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$36.87 $36.87

40.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$88.1 $88.1

31.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$129 $129

11.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$960 $960

143.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,367 $1,367

36.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,031 $2,031

127.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$1,297 $1,297

168.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,188 $2,188

254.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,185 $2,185

139.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,201 $4,201

57.50%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Starkville, MS: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $960 in Starkville, MS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 57% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $50.0 in Starkville, MS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $317 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 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 57% 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $960 in Starkville, MS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $987 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 $50.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,461 in Starkville, MS versus $3,598 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 46% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.