🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,696 in Athens versus $1,871 in Tupelo, MS.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,642 in Athens versus $3,569 in Tupelo, MS.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,588 in Athens versus $5,267 in Tupelo, MS.
🙂Living in Athens costs roughly 9% less than in Tupelo, MS, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Athens27% above, Tupelo, MS40% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.49€15.06
$16.28$16.28
7.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€54.7
$63.4$63.4
0.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.62€9.14
$9.84$9.84
7.93%
Cappuccino
$4.34€3.74
$4.93$4.93
-11.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.14
$2.36$2.36
5.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67€0.58
$1.89$1.89
-64.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.90€5.08
$6.05$6.05
-2.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.83€5.02
$6.99$6.99
-16.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.91€1.65
$0.98$0.98
94.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41€1.21
$3.28$3.28
-57.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.90€2.49
$1.42$1.42
104.23%
Eggs
$5.08€4.38
$4.38$4.38
15.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.66€12.62
$12.52$12.52
17.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.32€9.74
$7.68$7.68
47.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.08€12.98
$15.71$15.71
-4.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$3.01$3.01
-23.26%
Banana(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$1.11$1.11
95.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51€1.30
$3.66$3.66
-58.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30€1.98
$2.14$2.14
7.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.35€1.16
$3.52$3.52
-61.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18€1.01
$2.28$2.28
-48.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26€1.09
$1.85$1.85
-31.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04€0.90
$1.60$1.60
-35.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.59€4.81
$7.82$7.82
-28.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.76€10.12
$13.95$13.95
-15.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04€1.76
$1.67$1.67
22.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.49
$3.29$3.29
-11.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Tupelo, MS
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41€1.21
$1.98$1.98
-28.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.49€29.69
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.62€3.97
$4.96$4.96
-6.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10€0.95
$1.72$1.72
-36.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.33€14.92
$17.72$17.72
-2.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.14€1.84
$0.75$0.75
185.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K€24.5K
$35.4K$35.4K
-19.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4K€26.1K
$26.7K$26.7K
13.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$219€188
$177$177
23.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.82€23.09
$51.4$51.4
-47.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.71€29.88
$67.3$67.3
-48.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.1€49.13
$40.34$40.34
41.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.57€22.87
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.33€8.89
$9.38$9.38
10.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$552€475
$992$992
-44.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3K€9,693
$8,285$8,285
35.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.7€79.8
$43.85$43.85
111.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.61€40.99
$36.58$36.58
30.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100€86.2
$88.1$88.1
13.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121€104
$130$130
-6.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Tupelo, MS
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$660€568
$1,408$1,408
-53.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$582€501
$736$736
-20.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,182€1,017
$1,475$1,475
-19.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,029€886
$2,753$2,753
-62.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,114€3,542
$1,495$1,495
175.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,388€2,917
$1,467$1,467
130.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,342€1,155
$2,659$2,659
-49.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.99
6.55
-23.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Athens: June 2, 2026
Last update for Tupelo, MS: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Athens and $1,408 in Tupelo, MS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tupelo, 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.
🛒Dining out: $64.0 in Athens vs $63.0 in Tupelo, MS. Groceries flip the comparison at $317 vs $320, 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 – living expenses run 10% 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: $660 in Athens versus $1,408 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 $552 in Athens versus $992 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 – a meal for two runs $64.0 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 $1,696 in Athens versus $1,871 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 – similar infrastructure at $1,696 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 – expenses run 10% less than in Tupelo, MS. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.