Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Summerville, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Summerville, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,533 in Seattle, WA versus $2,263 in Summerville, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $3,405 in Summerville, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,565 in Seattle, WA versus $4,546 in Summerville, SC.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 56% more expensive than Summerville, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 165% above, Summerville, SC 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.41 $25.41

$16.64 $16.64

52.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$88.8 $88.8

36.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.81 $13.81

$12.93 $12.93

6.81%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$4.75 $4.75

23.37%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.74 $2.74

9.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.03 $1.03

133.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 $7.90

$4.47 $4.47

76.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$6.14 $6.14

33.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.93 $0.93

50.54%

White Bread (500g)

$4.90 $4.90

$2.89 $2.89

69.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$4.03 $4.03

28.54%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$2.55 $2.55

168.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.93 $24.93

$8.22 $8.22

203.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.69 $15.69

$8.65 $8.65

81.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.12 $20.12

$15.19 $15.19

32.46%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$5.08 $5.08

18.31%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.31 $1.31

116.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$4.01 $4.01

33.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$3.52 $3.52

89.49%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.03 $2.03

54.68%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.10 $2.10

75.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.84 $1.84

51.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$1.39 $1.39

90.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$7.68 $7.68

47.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.53 $15.53

$12.04 $12.04

28.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.01 $2.01

42.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 $4.20

$3.03 $3.03

38.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.01 $2.01

38.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.0 $97.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.54 $3.54

-26.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.51 $1.51

10.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.75 $29.75

$32.00 $32.00

-7.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.76 $0.76

50.00%

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

$33.4K $33.4K

$19.7K $19.7K

69.24%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$18.7K $18.7K

40.58%

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

$263 $263

$154 $154

70.49%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$63.7 $63.7

-4.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.6 $74.6

$73.0 $73.0

2.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.7 $79.7

$44.13 $44.13

80.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.05 $41.05

Cinema Ticket

$15.81 $15.81

$10.05 $10.05

57.31%

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

$2,289 $2,289

$1,473 $1,473

55.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$23.7K $23.7K

25.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 $68.1

$50.5 $50.5

34.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$25.27 $25.27

106.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$112 $112

4.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$101 $101

37.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 $2,377

$2,002 $2,002

18.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,874 $1,874

$1,171 $1,171

60.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$3,228 $3,228

47.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,575 $3,575

$2,050 $2,050

74.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,026 $8,026

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,203 $5,203

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,621 $6,621

$5,044 $5,044

31.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.3

1.90%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 14, 2026

Last update for Summerville, SC: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,377 in Seattle, WA and $2,002 in Summerville, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 31% 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 $89.0 in Summerville, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $540 vs $320 per month, with Summerville, SC 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 Summerville, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Summerville, SC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 31% 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: $2,377 in Seattle, WA versus $2,002 in Summerville, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,289 in Seattle, WA versus $1,473 in Summerville, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Summerville, SC – a meal for two runs $89.0 versus $121 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Summerville, SC is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Summerville, SC 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.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Summerville, SC 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 Summerville, SC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.