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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,583 in Seattle, WA versus $2,449 in Sumter, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,632 in Seattle, WA versus $3,474 in Sumter, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,681 in Seattle, WA versus $4,499 in Sumter, SC.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Sumter, SC 83% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.97 $24.97

$18.33 $18.33

36.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$59.9 $59.9

99.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.90 $13.90

$9.97 $9.97

39.42%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.80 $4.80

15.83%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$1.94 $1.94

57.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.37 $1.37

80.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$6.17 $6.17

29.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.01 $8.01

$7.02 $7.02

14.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.82 $0.82

63.41%

White Bread (500g)

$5.05 $5.05

$2.69 $2.69

87.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$4.21 $4.21

27.32%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$4.41 $4.41

49.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.31 $25.31

$4.52 $4.52

459.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$7.67 $7.67

111.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.30 $20.30

$13.24 $13.24

53.32%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$5.75 $5.75

3.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.60 $1.60

71.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$6.70 $6.70

-20.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.61 $6.61

$4.03 $4.03

64.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$1.92 $1.92

69.27%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$1.91 $1.91

98.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.80 $1.80

51.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$0.97 $0.97

160.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$7.90 $7.90

43.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.28 $16.28

$13.18 $13.18

23.52%

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

$2.02 $2.02

105.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.01 $2.01

33.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.1 $97.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 $2.71

$3.05 $3.05

-11.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.50 $1.50

15.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.46 $29.46

$30.60 $30.60

-3.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.81 $0.81

48.15%

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

$33.6K $33.6K

$34.6K $34.6K

-2.89%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.0K $25.0K

4.15%

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

$266 $266

$141 $141

89.07%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$55.4 $55.4

9.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$45.59 $45.59

67.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.2 $79.2

$43.38 $43.38

82.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.51 $40.51

$4.96 $4.96

716.73%

Cinema Ticket

$16.22 $16.22

$8.26 $8.26

96.37%

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

$2,280 $2,280

$1,316 $1,316

73.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$24.9K $24.9K

18.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 $69.6

$44.61 $44.61

56.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 $52.6

$36.69 $36.69

43.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$59.7 $59.7

100.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$153 $153

-6.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,606 $1,606

48.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 $1,866

$1,349 $1,349

38.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,724 $4,724

$893 $893

428.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,510 $3,510

$2,230 $2,230

57.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,711 $7,711

$1,457 $1,457

429.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,381 $5,381

$1,493 $1,493

260.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,493 $6,493

$3,575 $3,575

81.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

4.8

33.75%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sumter, SC: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,378 in Seattle, WA and $1,606 in Sumter, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 82% 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 $60.0 in Sumter, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $544 vs $316 per month, with Sumter, 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 Sumter, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sumter, SC 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 82% 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 $1,606 in Sumter, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,280 in Seattle, WA versus $1,316 in Sumter, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Sumter, SC – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $119 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,449 in Sumter, SC versus $3,583 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Sumter, SC but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Sumter, SC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Sumter, 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.

Expats usually find Sumter, SC 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.