Residential comparison · 13 facts
Charlotte, NC vs Seattle, WA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Charlotte needs about $95,500 in Seattle to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Seattle, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $74,000 in Charlotte.
A few differences
- Charlotte is lower on property tax rate (0.85% vs 0.9%).
- Charlotte is lower on sales tax (7.25% vs 10.25%).
- Charlotte is lower on groceries index (98 vs 112).
Charlotte vs Seattle · facet by facet
| Facet | Charlotte, NC | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $400,000 | $850,000 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,800/mo | $2,800/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.85% | 0.9% |
| State & local income tax | 3.15% | 0% |
| Sales tax | 7.25% | 10.25% |
| Cost of living index | 99 | 149 |
| Groceries index | 98 | 112 |
| Utilities | $160/mo | $210/mo |
| Median household income | $74,000 | $116,000 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 4.1% |
| Crime index | 49/100 | 46/100 |
| School rating | 6.5/10 | 7.0/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 218 days | 152 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Charlotte, NC · Seattle, WA
Questions & answers
- Is Charlotte cheaper than Seattle?
- Charlotte has the lower day-to-day cost index (99 vs 149 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Seattle equals $85,000 in Charlotte?
- A household earning $85,000 in Charlotte needs about $95,500 in Seattle to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Seattle lifestyle costs about $74,000 in Charlotte.