Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Spartanburg, SC: $2,268 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $18,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Spartanburg, SC, United States
Seattle, WA, United States
Spartanburg, SC
🇺🇸 United States
$2,268
/mo nomad
Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,785
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Spartanburg, SC and in Seattle, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Spartanburg, SC and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Spartanburg, SC versus $3,785 in Seattle, WA.

  • Spartanburg, SC $2,268
  • Seattle, WA $3,785

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,352 in Spartanburg, SC versus $5,688 in Seattle, WA.

  • Spartanburg, SC $3,352
  • Seattle, WA $5,688

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,435 in Spartanburg, SC versus $7,592 in Seattle, WA.

  • Spartanburg, SC $4,435
  • Seattle, WA $7,592

Living in Spartanburg, SC costs roughly 40% less than in Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Spartanburg, SC 67% above, Seattle, WA 178% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Spartanburg, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.11 $17.11
$25.30 $25.30
-32.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.4 $59.4
$101 $101
-41.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.93 $9.93
$14.76 $14.76
-32.72%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$6.50 $6.50
-13.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$3.21 $3.21
-30.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$3.14 $3.14
-24.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.86 $4.86
$7.97 $7.97
-39.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.85 $6.85
$8.13 $8.13
-15.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spartanburg, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.17 $1.17
-19.66%
White Bread (500g)
$3.46 $3.46
$5.30 $5.30
-34.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.36 $5.36
$6.40 $6.40
-16.25%
Eggs
$3.80 $3.80
$5.06 $5.06
-24.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.99 $12.99
$18.71 $18.71
-30.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.54 $12.54
$18.72 $18.72
-33.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.30 $16.30
$22.88 $22.88
-28.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$6.06 $6.06
-46.37%
Banana (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.95 $1.95
21.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$5.51 $5.51
-29.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.98 $5.98
$6.52 $6.52
-8.28%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.49 $3.49
-26.36%
Onion (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.29 $3.29
13.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.80 $2.80
-20.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.58 $2.58
13.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.13 $9.13
$12.49 $12.49
-26.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.44 $16.44
$14.87 $14.87
10.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$4.19 $4.19
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.88 $6.88
$5.80 $5.80
18.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Spartanburg, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$3.05 $3.05
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$122 $122
$106 $106
14.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.58 $2.58
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.64 $1.64
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$30.12 $30.12
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 $0.80
$1.41 $1.41
-43.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K $34.6K
$36.8K $36.8K
-5.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$26.6K $26.6K
0.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spartanburg, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$175 $175
$308 $308
-42.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$91.9 $91.9
$69.2 $69.2
32.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.3 $62.3
$86.1 $86.1
-27.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spartanburg, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.35 $26.35
$76.5 $76.5
-65.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.50 $35.50
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.23 $12.23
$18.02 $18.02
-32.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spartanburg, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$960 $960
$2,746 $2,746
-65.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$30.6K $30.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spartanburg, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.11 $42.11
$79.2 $79.2
-46.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.61 $35.61
$54.3 $54.3
-34.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 $80.4
$127 $127
-36.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 $121
$159 $159
-23.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spartanburg, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,267 $1,267
$2,508 $2,508
-49.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$937 $937
$1,938 $1,938
-51.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,180 $2,180
$5,117 $5,117
-57.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,560 $1,560
$3,542 $3,542
-55.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,793 $1,793
$7,374 $7,374
-75.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,806 $1,806
$5,002 $5,002
-63.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spartanburg, SC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,369 $3,369
$6,470 $6,470
-47.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.22
6.89
4.79%

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

Last update for Spartanburg, SC: October 27, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Spartanburg, SC
$937
Seattle, WA
$1.9K 107% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Spartanburg, SC
$413 *
Seattle, WA
$547 32.4% $134
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spartanburg, SC
$330
Seattle, WA
$463 40.4% $133
Eating Out
Spartanburg, SC
$291
Seattle, WA
$406 39.8% $116
Clothing & Footwear
Spartanburg, SC
$126
Seattle, WA
$189 50.2% $63
Getting Around
Spartanburg, SC
$122 *
Seattle, WA
$129 6% $7.3
Sport & Entertainment
Spartanburg, SC
$51
Seattle, WA
$112 121% $62

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,267 in Spartanburg, SC and $2,508 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 92% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $59 in Spartanburg, SC vs $101 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $413 vs $547 per month, with Spartanburg, SC cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Spartanburg, SC
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🕒 Local time
19:12 7:12 PM
16:12 4:12 PM
3 h behind Spartanburg, SC
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
37,013
737,015
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Spartanburg, SC Seattle, WA 3,610 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Spartanburg, SC
  • Seattle, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Spartanburg, SC vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Spartanburg, SC cheaper than Seattle, WA?
Spartanburg, SC is about 40% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Spartanburg, SC or Seattle, WA?
On paper, salaries run 48% lower in Spartanburg, SC. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Spartanburg, SC and Seattle, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,267 in Spartanburg, SC versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Spartanburg, SC or in Seattle, WA?
Dining out is cheaper in Spartanburg, SC – a meal for two runs $59 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Spartanburg, SC and in Seattle, WA?
All in, you’ll spend $2,268 per month in Spartanburg, SC versus $3,785 in Seattle, WA – Spartanburg, SC is about 40% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is $2,000 enough to cover costs in Spartanburg, SC or in Seattle, WA?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Spartanburg, SC is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Spartanburg, SC or in Seattle, WA?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Spartanburg, SC wins on affordability, Seattle, WA on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Spartanburg, SC vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?