๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,728 in Athens versus $1,843 in Tupelo, MS.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,680 in Athens versus $3,483 in Tupelo, MS.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,632 in Athens versus $5,124 in Tupelo, MS.
๐Living in Athens costs roughly 6% less than in Tupelo, MS, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Athens28% above, Tupelo, MS37% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Athens
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.57โฌ14.95
$16.61$16.61
5.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6โฌ55.0
$63.0$63.0
2.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.36โฌ8.82
$9.94$9.94
4.23%
Cappuccino
$4.34โฌ3.69
$4.86$4.86
-10.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46โฌ2.09
$2.33$2.33
5.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63โฌ0.54
$1.91$1.91
-67.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.85โฌ4.98
$5.93$5.93
-1.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.73โฌ4.88
$7.02$7.02
-18.38%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Athens
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.91โฌ1.63
$0.90$0.90
112.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41โฌ1.20
$3.35$3.35
-57.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.87โฌ2.45
$1.47$1.47
95.24%
Eggs
$4.97โฌ4.23
$4.28$4.28
16.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.95โฌ12.72
$12.43$12.43
20.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.01โฌ9.37
$7.58$7.58
45.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.09โฌ12.84
$15.51$15.51
-2.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23โฌ1.90
$3.04$3.04
-26.64%
Banana(1kg)
$2.17โฌ1.85
$1.13$1.13
92.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58โฌ1.35
$3.52$3.52
-55.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.28โฌ1.94
$2.12$2.12
7.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36โฌ1.16
$3.62$3.62
-62.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17โฌ1.00
$2.20$2.20
-46.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23โฌ1.05
$1.84$1.84
-33.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04โฌ0.89
$1.56$1.56
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.54โฌ4.72
$8.09$8.09
-31.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.99โฌ10.20
$14.15$14.15
-15.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03โฌ1.72
$1.66$1.66
22.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00โฌ2.55
$3.17$3.17
-5.36%
๐ Getting Around
Athens
Tupelo, MS
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37โฌ1.16
$1.95$1.95
-29.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.00โฌ29.79
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.67โฌ3.97
$4.95$4.95
-5.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07โฌ0.91
$1.74$1.74
-38.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.08โฌ14.54
$17.81$17.81
-4.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07โฌ1.76
$0.76$0.76
172.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0Kโฌ24.7K
$35.7K$35.7K
-18.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2Kโฌ25.7K
$26.7K$26.7K
12.95%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217โฌ185
$178$178
22.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.75โฌ23.61
$50.1$50.1
-44.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.02โฌ29.80
$69.2$69.2
-49.41%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.7โฌ48.26
$39.84$39.84
42.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.04โฌ22.16
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.39โฌ8.84
$9.27$9.27
12.08%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Athens
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$564โฌ480
$991$991
-43.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.1Kโฌ9,469
$8,411$8,411
32.28%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.5โฌ78.7
$42.51$42.51
117.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.26โฌ40.22
$37.06$37.06
27.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.8โฌ84.1
$87.1$87.1
13.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120โฌ102
$126$126
-5.36%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Athens
Tupelo, MS
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$645โฌ548
$1,395$1,395
-53.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$561โฌ477
$755$755
-25.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,195โฌ1,017
$1,523$1,523
-21.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,037โฌ883
$2,785$2,785
-62.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,220โฌ3,591
$1,477$1,477
185.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,598โฌ3,062
$1,458$1,458
146.87%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Athens
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,333โฌ1,135
$2,633$2,633
-49.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.99
6.55
-23.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Athens: April 13, 2026
Last update for Tupelo, MS: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $645 in Athens and $1,395 in Tupelo, MS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐTupelo, MS pays 98% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $65 in Athens vs $63 in Tupelo, MS. Groceries flip the comparison at $316 vs $318, with Athens cheaper for home cooking.
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 vs Tupelo, MS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Tupelo, MS?
Athens wins on cost โ living expenses run 7% lower than in Tupelo, MS. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Athens the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or Tupelo, MS?
On paper, Tupelo, MS earns 98% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Athens vs Tupelo, MS?
Rent for a central apartment: $645 in Athens versus $1,395 in Tupelo, MS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Athens and Tupelo, MS?
Childcare runs $564 in Athens versus $991 in Tupelo, MS. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Athens vs Tupelo, MS?
Dining out is cheaper in Athens โ a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $63.0 in Tupelo, MS. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Athens or Tupelo, MS?
At $1,728 in Athens versus $1,843 in Tupelo, MS, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Athens but tight or insufficient in Tupelo, MS. The gap between the two cities makes Athens the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Tupelo, MS?
Both work as nomad bases, but Athens delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $1,728 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Athens hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to Tupelo, MS?
Safety-wise, Athens and Tupelo, MS are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Athens gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 7% less than in Tupelo, MS. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.