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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,621 in Seattle, WA versus $2,317 in Union, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,548 in Seattle, WA versus $3,422 in Union, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,476 in Seattle, WA versus $4,526 in Union, SC.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 172% above, Union, SC 74% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$9.18 $9.18

172.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$102 $102

16.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$8.71 $8.71

57.98%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$5.73 $5.73

2.09%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.25 $2.25

35.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.93 $1.93

23.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$2.76 $2.76

187.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$3.44 $3.44

128.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.04 $1.04

33.65%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.45 $2.45

98.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$2.44 $2.44

112.30%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$3.07 $3.07

117.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$8.71 $8.71

190.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$8.76 $8.76

81.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$10.04 $10.04

100.80%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$2.83 $2.83

118.73%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.29 $1.29

123.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$3.30 $3.30

66.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$4.28 $4.28

49.07%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.61 $2.61

18.39%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.09 $2.09

81.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.76 $1.76

59.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$1.24 $1.24

110.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$7.38 $7.38

54.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$8.58 $8.58

81.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.80 $1.80

66.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$4.87 $4.87

-13.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.96 $1.96

37.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$4.47 $4.47

-40.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.38 $2.38

-28.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$42.78 $42.78

-31.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.82 $0.82

39.02%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

0.14%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$24.4K $24.4K

8.68%

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

$261 $261

$173 $173

50.67%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$65.5 $65.5

-7.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$44.96 $44.96

68.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$42.33 $42.33

86.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$12.97 $12.97

21.97%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$2,607 $2,607

-15.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

13.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$47.71 $47.71

46.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$20.59 $20.59

152.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$86.2 $86.2

35.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$101 $101

38.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$1,628 $1,628

42.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,334 $1,334

40.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$2,675 $2,675

76.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$2,225 $2,225

60.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$2,577 $2,577

196.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$2,184 $2,184

130.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$2,423 $2,423

168.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

60.50%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Union, SC: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,321 in Seattle, WA and $1,628 in Union, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 169% 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 $102 in Union, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $542 vs $283 per month, with Union, 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 Union, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Average pay runs 169% 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: $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $1,628 in Union, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,210 in Seattle, WA versus $2,607 in Union, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Union, SC – a meal for two runs $102 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,317 in Union, SC versus $3,621 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Union, SC but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Union, SC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Union, 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 Union, 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.