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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,446 in Sumter, SC versus $3,661 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,485 in Sumter, SC versus $5,544 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,524 in Sumter, SC versus $7,427 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Sumter, SC costs roughly 33% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sumter, SC 83% above, Seattle, WA 173% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.85 $17.85

$25.32 $25.32

-29.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.5 $59.5

$121 $121

-50.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.83 $9.83

$14.11 $14.11

-30.33%

Cappuccino

$5.05 $5.05

$5.82 $5.82

-13.23%

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

$1.93 $1.93

$2.98 $2.98

-35.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.40 $2.40

-42.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.06 $6.06

$7.73 $7.73

-21.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 $7.18

$7.87 $7.87

-8.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.34 $1.34

-43.28%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 $2.82

$4.91 $4.91

-42.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.14 $5.14

-14.20%

Eggs

$4.41 $4.41

$6.57 $6.57

-32.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$24.64 $24.64

-81.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.69 $7.69

$15.88 $15.88

-51.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.34 $13.34

$20.14 $20.14

-33.76%

Apples (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$6.27 $6.27

-9.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 $1.61

$2.86 $2.86

-43.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.48 $6.48

$5.29 $5.29

22.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.90 $3.90

$6.39 $6.39

-38.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.01 $2.01

$3.21 $3.21

-37.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$3.83 $3.83

-50.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.74 $2.74

-37.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$2.58 $2.58

-60.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.27 $8.27

$11.64 $11.64

-28.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.19 $13.19

$15.77 $15.77

-16.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.88 $2.88

-25.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$4.39 $4.39

-53.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.76 $2.76

-25.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.67 $2.67

14.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.70 $1.70

-14.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.10 $30.10

$29.74 $29.74

1.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.14 $1.14

-28.95%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$32.9K $32.9K

7.27%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$26.0K $26.0K

-4.78%

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

$138 $138

$268 $268

-48.47%

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

$55.6 $55.6

$60.9 $60.9

-8.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.73 $45.73

$76.2 $76.2

-39.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.32 $42.32

$78.1 $78.1

-45.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.05 $5.05

$40.15 $40.15

-87.42%

Cinema Ticket

$8.30 $8.30

$15.82 $15.82

-47.53%

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

$1,337 $1,337

$2,252 $2,252

-40.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.4K $24.4K

$29.7K $29.7K

-17.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.20 $45.20

$70.8 $70.8

-36.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.61 $36.61

$53.1 $53.1

-31.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.4 $59.4

$117 $117

-49.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$151 $151

$139 $139

8.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,623 $1,623

$2,310 $2,310

-29.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,327 $1,327

$1,849 $1,849

-28.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$901 $901

$4,739 $4,739

-80.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,187 $2,187

$3,556 $3,556

-38.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,498 $1,498

$7,775 $7,775

-80.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,474 $1,474

$5,351 $5,351

-72.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,553 $3,553

$6,575 $6,575

-45.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.8

6.42

-25.23%

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

Last update for Sumter, SC: April 20, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,623 in Sumter, SC and $2,310 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 85% 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: $59 in Sumter, SC vs $121 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $317 vs $539 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

Sumter, SC vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sumter, SC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 50% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Seattle, WA earns 85% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,623 in Sumter, SC versus $2,310 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,337 in Sumter, SC versus $2,252 in Seattle, WA. 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 $59.0 versus $121 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,446 in Sumter, SC versus $3,661 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 50% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.