Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Atlanta, GA: $2,947 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

143

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

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

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Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,947

/mo nomad

Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,947 per month in Atlanta, GA vs $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Atlanta, GA $2,947
Seattle, WA $3,785

A couple spends around $4,321 per month in Atlanta, GA vs $5,688 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Atlanta, GA $4,321
Seattle, WA $5,688

A family of three spends $5,695 per month in Atlanta, GA vs $7,592 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Atlanta, GA $5,695
Seattle, WA $7,592

Atlanta, GA is about 22% cheaper than Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Atlanta, GA and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Atlanta, GA by 117%, Seattle, WA by 178%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.94 $31.94

$25.30 $25.30

26.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$113 $113

$101 $101

11.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.15 $12.15

$14.76 $14.76

-17.68%

Cappuccino

$5.64 $5.64

$6.50 $6.50

-13.23%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$3.21 $3.21

-9.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$3.14 $3.14

-30.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.52 $6.52

$7.97 $7.97

-18.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.95 $7.95

$8.13 $8.13

-2.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.17 $1.17

-21.37%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$5.30 $5.30

-35.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 $3.74

$6.40 $6.40

-41.56%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$5.06 $5.06

-5.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$18.71 $18.71

-25.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$18.72 $18.72

-22.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$22.88 $22.88

-13.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.81 $5.81

$6.06 $6.06

-4.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.95 $1.95

-26.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.08 $6.08

$5.51 $5.51

10.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.45 $5.45

$6.52 $6.52

-16.41%

Potato (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$3.49 $3.49

5.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.29 $3.29

-21.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.80 $2.80

-18.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.58 $2.58

6.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.12 $9.12

$12.49 $12.49

-26.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$14.87 $14.87

-0.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.80 $3.80

$4.19 $4.19

-9.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.10 $5.10

$5.80 $5.80

-12.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.05 $3.05

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$96.4 $96.4

$106 $106

-9.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.58 $2.58

34.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.64 $1.64

-9.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.92 $23.92

$30.12 $30.12

-20.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.41 $1.41

-29.79%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$36.8K $36.8K

0.64%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.6K $26.6K

-1.23%

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

$219 $219

$308 $308

-28.83%

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

$70.6 $70.6

$69.2 $69.2

2.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.9 $84.9

$86.1 $86.1

-1.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.53 $30.53

$76.5 $76.5

-60.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.12 $16.12

$35.50 $35.50

-54.59%

Cinema Ticket

$16.90 $16.90

$18.02 $18.02

-6.22%

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

$1,808 $1,808

$2,746 $2,746

-34.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$30.6K $30.6K

-26.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.3 $52.3

$79.2 $79.2

-33.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.16 $44.16

$54.3 $54.3

-18.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.2 $98.2

$127 $127

-22.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$159 $159

-31.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$2,508 $2,508

-21.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,369 $1,369

$1,938 $1,938

-29.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,186 $3,186

$5,117 $5,117

-37.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,070 $2,070

$3,542 $3,542

-41.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,592 $3,592

$7,374 $7,374

-51.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$5,002 $5,002

-50.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,391 $5,391

$6,470 $6,470

-16.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.89

-5.52%

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

Last update for Atlanta, GA: October 25, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Atlanta, GA

$1.4K 46.5%

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2% 41.6% $569

Groceries & Markets

Atlanta, GA

$458 15.5%

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5% 19.5% $89

Eating Out

Atlanta, GA

$428 14.5%

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7% 5.2% $22

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Atlanta, GA

$374 12.7%

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2% 23.6% $88

Clothing & Footwear

Atlanta, GA

$136 4.6%

Seattle, WA

$189 5% 38.3% $52

Getting Around

Atlanta, GA

$117 4%

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4% 10.2% $12

Sport & Entertainment

Atlanta, GA

$64 2.2%

Seattle, WA

$112 3% 74.8% $48

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,981 in Atlanta, GA versus $2,508 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 20% 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 $113 in Atlanta, GA versus $101 in Seattle, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $458 in Atlanta, GA vs $547 in Seattle, WA – so Atlanta, GA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🕒 Local time

05:14 5:14 AM

02:14 2:14 AM

3 h behind Atlanta, GA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

510,823

737,015

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Atlanta, GA Seattle, WA 3,500 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Atlanta, 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

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

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 28%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,421 per month in Atlanta, GA and $5,677 in Seattle, 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,981 there versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA.

Groceries cost about 20% 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 $113 in Atlanta, GA and $101 in Seattle, WA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,947 in Atlanta, GA and $3,785 in Seattle, 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, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.