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: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $2,299 in Union, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $3,437 in Union, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $4,575 in Union, SC.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 69% more expensive than in Union, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Union, SC 68% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$9.11 $9.11

174.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$98.6 $98.6

1.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$8.78 $8.78

71.53%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$5.69 $5.69

11.95%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.29 $2.29

34.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.87 $1.87

60.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$2.82 $2.82

176.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$3.60 $3.60

128.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.10 $1.10

10.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$2.53 $2.53

97.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$2.45 $2.45

160.82%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$3.05 $3.05

67.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$8.86 $8.86

137.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$8.68 $8.68

111.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$9.64 $9.64

149.27%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$2.83 $2.83

108.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.29 $1.29

45.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$3.20 $3.20

65.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$4.48 $4.48

44.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.40 $2.40

53.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.03 $2.03

65.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.70 $1.70

64.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.29 $1.29

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$8.17 $8.17

70.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$8.49 $8.49

76.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.80 $1.80

137.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$5.08 $5.08

15.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.85 $1.85

57.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.38 $4.38

-41.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$3.10 $3.10

-44.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$34.50 $34.50

-11.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.92 $0.92

52.17%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$31.9K $31.9K

13.27%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$24.9K $24.9K

2.63%

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

$299 $299

$180 $180

65.88%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$64.6 $64.6

7.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$45.86 $45.86

91.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$41.00 $41.00

95.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$12.89 $12.89

37.32%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$2,607 $2,607

15.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$22.9K $22.9K

35.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$48.74 $48.74

58.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$21.16 $21.16

160.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$84.9 $84.9

51.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$99.9 $99.9

59.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,663 $1,663

49.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,409 $1,409

36.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,160 $2,160

120.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$2,271 $2,271

60.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$2,842 $2,842

166.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$2,238 $2,238

128.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$2,454 $2,454

153.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

61.25%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Union, SC: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,663 in Union, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 153% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $99.0 in Union, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $284 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 69% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 153% 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,663 in Union, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,020 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 $99.0 versus $100 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Union, SC is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 69% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.