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: $3,583 in Seattle, WA versus $2,265 in Summerville, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,632 in Seattle, WA versus $3,405 in Summerville, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,681 in Seattle, WA versus $4,545 in Summerville, SC.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 58% more expensive than Summerville, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Summerville, SC 69% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.97 $24.97

$16.43 $16.43

51.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$88.5 $88.5

34.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.90 $13.90

$12.57 $12.57

10.58%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.80 $4.80

15.83%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.77 $2.77

10.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.99 $0.99

149.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$4.44 $4.44

79.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.01 $8.01

$5.85 $5.85

36.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.95 $0.95

41.05%

White Bread (500g)

$5.05 $5.05

$2.90 $2.90

74.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$4.05 $4.05

32.35%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$2.54 $2.54

159.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.31 $25.31

$8.38 $8.38

202.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$8.81 $8.81

83.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.30 $20.30

$15.42 $15.42

31.65%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$4.96 $4.96

20.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.32 $1.32

107.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$4.03 $4.03

33.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.61 $6.61

$3.66 $3.66

80.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.01 $2.01

61.69%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.09 $2.09

81.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.81 $1.81

50.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.40 $1.40

80.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$7.81 $7.81

44.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.28 $16.28

$11.89 $11.89

36.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.08 $2.08

37.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 $4.16

$2.91 $2.91

42.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.98 $1.98

35.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.1 $97.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 $2.71

$3.58 $3.58

-24.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.47 $1.47

17.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.46 $29.46

$32.80 $32.80

-10.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.75 $0.75

60.00%

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

$33.6K $33.6K

$20.1K $20.1K

67.43%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$19.2K $19.2K

35.58%

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

$266 $266

$151 $151

76.83%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$64.4 $64.4

-6.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$71.3 $71.3

6.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.2 $79.2

$44.76 $44.76

76.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.51 $40.51

Cinema Ticket

$16.22 $16.22

$9.89 $9.89

64.00%

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

$2,280 $2,280

$1,515 $1,515

50.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$23.0K $23.0K

28.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 $69.6

$49.33 $49.33

41.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 $52.6

$24.91 $24.91

111.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$112 $112

7.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$98.8 $98.8

44.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,002 $2,002

18.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 $1,866

$1,150 $1,150

62.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,724 $4,724

$3,191 $3,191

48.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,510 $3,510

$1,996 $1,996

75.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,711 $7,711

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,381 $5,381

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,493 $6,493

$4,918 $4,918

32.03%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Summerville, SC: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,378 in Seattle, WA and $2,002 in Summerville, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 32% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $88.0 in Summerville, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $544 vs $322 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 58% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 32% 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: $2,378 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 $2,280 in Seattle, WA versus $1,515 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 $88.0 versus $119 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 58% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.