Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens, GA and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Athens, GA: $2,200 a month against $3,782 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $19,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

107

Cost of Living Index in Athens, GA
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Athens, GA Living Index
184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index

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Athens, GA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,200

/mo nomad

Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,782

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens, GA 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 Athens, GA and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,200 per month in Athens, GA vs $3,782 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Athens, GA $2,200
Seattle, WA $3,782

A couple spends around $3,313 per month in Athens, GA vs $5,636 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Athens, GA $3,313
Seattle, WA $5,636

A family of three spends $4,426 per month in Athens, GA vs $7,489 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Athens, GA $4,426
Seattle, WA $7,489

Athens, GA is about 42% cheaper than Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Athens, GA and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Athens, GA by 62%, Seattle, WA by 179%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.19 $13.19

$24.52 $24.52

-46.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.7 $63.7

$98.2 $98.2

-35.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.36 $10.36

$14.79 $14.79

-29.95%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$6.52 $6.52

-12.58%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$3.23 $3.23

-9.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$3.17 $3.17

-30.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.52 $7.52

$7.85 $7.85

-4.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.79 $7.79

$8.03 $8.03

-2.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.21 $1.21

-32.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.93 $2.93

$5.14 $5.14

-43.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.57 $6.57

$6.05 $6.05

8.60%

Eggs

$3.27 $3.27

$4.88 $4.88

-32.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.81 $8.81

$19.18 $19.18

-54.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.55 $10.55

$18.91 $18.91

-44.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.58 $14.58

$23.31 $23.31

-37.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.96 $5.96

$5.99 $5.99

-0.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.93 $1.93

-29.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$5.25 $5.25

18.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$6.57 $6.57

-28.01%

Potato (1kg)

$4.21 $4.21

$3.62 $3.62

16.30%

Onion (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.31 $3.31

25.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.78 $2.78

-5.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.51 $2.51

-21.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.03 $9.03

$12.18 $12.18

-25.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.65 $18.65

$14.83 $14.83

25.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$4.22 $4.22

-57.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.93 $5.93

$5.77 $5.77

2.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.58 $15.58

$106 $106

-85.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.65 $2.65

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.72 $29.72

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.49 $1.49

-32.89%

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

$28.4K $28.4K

$35.9K $35.9K

-20.99%

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

$27.0K $27.0K

$26.2K $26.2K

2.69%

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

$285 $285

$302 $302

-5.74%

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

$41.91 $41.91

$70.1 $70.1

-40.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.7 $79.7

$85.3 $85.3

-6.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.05 $25.05

$77.8 $77.8

-67.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.80 $7.80

$34.58 $34.58

-77.44%

Cinema Ticket

$12.95 $12.95

$17.84 $17.84

-27.41%

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

$872 $872

$2,973 $2,973

-70.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,396 $9,396

$31.3K $31.3K

-69.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 $54.8

$76.6 $76.6

-28.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.97 $31.97

$54.1 $54.1

-40.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.6 $64.6

$128 $128

-49.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 $54.5

$164 $164

-66.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,340 $1,340

$2,445 $2,445

-45.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$957 $957

$1,947 $1,947

-50.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,322 $2,322

$4,744 $4,744

-51.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,860 $1,860

$3,469 $3,469

-46.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,420 $2,420

$7,367 $7,367

-67.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,230 $2,230

$5,127 $5,127

-56.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,487 $3,487

$6,506 $6,506

-46.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.72

6.89

-2.47%

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

Last update for Athens, GA: October 20, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Athens, GA

$957 43.5%

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.5% 104% $990

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Athens, GA

$406 18.5%

Seattle, WA

$457 12.1% 12.6% $51

Groceries & Markets

Athens, GA

$399 18.2%

Seattle, WA

$546 14.4% 36.6% $146

Eating Out

Athens, GA

$279 12.7%

Seattle, WA

$400 10.6% 43.4% $121

Clothing & Footwear

Athens, GA

$93 4.2%

Seattle, WA

$190 5% 106% $98

Sport & Entertainment

Athens, GA

$51 2.3%

Seattle, WA

$114 3% 123% $63

Getting Around

Athens, GA

$16 * 0.7%

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4% 730% $114

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,340 in Athens, GA versus $2,445 in Seattle, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 87% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Athens, GA versus $98.0 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $399 vs $546 – making Athens, GA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Athens, GA

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🕒 Local time

09:57 9:57 AM

06:57 6:57 AM

3 h behind Athens, GA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

115,452

737,015

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

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Between locations

Athens, GA Seattle, WA 3,570 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Athens, GA
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

Athens, GA vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 72%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,300 per month in Athens, GA and $5,673 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Athens, GA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Athens, GA and $98.0 in Seattle, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Athens, GA, where all-in costs run around $2,200, than in Seattle, WA at $3,782. In Athens, GA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Athens, GA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Athens, GA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.