Cost of Living Comparison Between Atlanta, GA and Puyallup, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Atlanta, GA and Puyallup, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,991 per month in Atlanta, GA vs $3,283 in Puyallup, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,251 per month in Atlanta, GA vs $4,355 in Puyallup, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,512 per month in Atlanta, GA vs $5,427 in Puyallup, WA, rent included.

Atlanta, GA is about 9% cheaper than Puyallup, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Atlanta, GA and Puyallup, WA sit above the global median – Atlanta, GA by 123%, Puyallup, WA by 145%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.90 $20.90

$24.75 $24.75

-15.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.3 $90.3

$72.2 $72.2

25.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$14.15 $14.15

-16.18%

Cappuccino

$5.03 $5.03

$6.22 $6.22

-19.13%

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

$2.62 $2.62

$3.00 $3.00

-12.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.41 $2.41

-4.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 $5.94

$7.58 $7.58

-21.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.85 $7.85

2.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.13 $1.13

-12.39%

White Bread (500g)

$3.81 $3.81

$4.28 $4.28

-10.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.45 $5.45

$6.55 $6.55

-16.79%

Eggs

$4.06 $4.06

$5.18 $5.18

-21.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.35 $13.35

$18.15 $18.15

-26.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.87 $15.87

$16.40 $16.40

-3.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.05 $17.05

$20.13 $20.13

-15.30%

Apples (1kg)

$7.22 $7.22

$5.06 $5.06

42.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.70 $1.70

-11.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.82 $6.82

$4.93 $4.93

38.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$6.56 $6.56

-10.52%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.21 $3.21

2.49%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.26 $3.26

0.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.81 $2.81

-10.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.57 $2.57

18.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.28 $7.28

$10.78 $10.78

-32.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.14 $15.14

$18.09 $18.09

-16.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$1.75 $1.75

102.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.49 $5.49

$4.37 $4.37

25.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.84 $2.84

-13.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$93.5 $93.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.67 $2.67

27.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.04 $2.04

-25.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.99 $23.99

$30.39 $30.39

-21.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.19 $1.19

-26.89%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$32.4K $32.4K

10.60%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.3K $26.3K

-1.76%

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

$196 $196

$263 $263

-25.20%

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

$56.4 $56.4

$71.4 $71.4

-21.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.5 $73.5

$74.8 $74.8

-1.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.78 $45.78

$30.39 $30.39

50.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.84 $9.84

Cinema Ticket

$16.14 $16.14

$15.33 $15.33

5.28%

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

$1,246 $1,246

$2,063 $2,063

-39.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.8K $25.8K

$29.2K $29.2K

-11.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 $51.7

$59.6 $59.6

-13.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.72 $39.72

$45.07 $45.07

-11.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.9 $98.9

$91.5 $91.5

8.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$136 $136

-17.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,790 $1,790

$1,793 $1,793

-0.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,500 $1,500

$1,727 $1,727

-13.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,094 $3,094

$2,290 $2,290

35.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,311 $2,311

$2,133 $2,133

8.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,821 $3,821

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,660 $2,660

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,346 $5,346

$6,927 $6,927

-22.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.42

1.87%

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

Last update for Atlanta, GA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Puyallup, WA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,790 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,793 in Puyallup, 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 30% higher in Puyallup, 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 $90.0 in Atlanta, GA versus $72.0 in Puyallup, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $481 in Atlanta, GA vs $498 in Puyallup, WA – so Atlanta, GA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Atlanta, GA vs Puyallup, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Puyallup, WA is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,486 per month in Atlanta, GA and $4,924 in Puyallup, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,991 in Atlanta, GA and $3,283 in Puyallup, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,246 per month in Atlanta, GA and $2,063 in Puyallup, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,991 in Atlanta, GA and $3,283 in Puyallup, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Atlanta, 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 Atlanta, GA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Puyallup, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.