Cost of Living Comparison Between Franklin, TN and Salem, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Franklin, TN and Salem, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,228 per month in Franklin, TN vs $3,473 in Salem, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,407 per month in Franklin, TN vs $4,781 in Salem, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,586 per month in Franklin, TN vs $6,090 in Salem, MA, rent included.

Franklin, TN is about 7% cheaper than Salem, MA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Franklin, TN and Salem, MA sit above the global median – Franklin, TN by 141%, Salem, MA by 159%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.44 $27.44

$25.10 $25.10

9.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.2 $80.2

$98.2 $98.2

-18.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.65 $11.65

$11.04 $11.04

5.53%

Cappuccino

$6.99 $6.99

$5.10 $5.10

37.06%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.44 $2.44

27.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.13 $2.13

15.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.70 $7.70

$8.12 $8.12

-5.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.19 $8.19

$6.97 $6.97

17.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.22 $1.22

9.84%

White Bread (500g)

$3.87 $3.87

$4.37 $4.37

-11.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$8.72 $8.72

-51.61%

Eggs

$5.78 $5.78

$4.42 $4.42

30.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.28 $15.28

$14.19 $14.19

7.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.53 $11.53

$14.25 $14.25

-19.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 $15.24

$8.70 $8.70

75.17%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$4.53 $4.53

-15.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.33 $1.33

43.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$3.35 $3.35

23.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$4.79 $4.79

-4.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 $2.00

$4.29 $4.29

-53.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.37 $2.37

-8.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.54 $2.54

-0.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$3.43 $3.43

-35.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.57 $9.57

$9.53 $9.53

0.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.87 $12.87

$12.89 $12.89

-0.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.76 $1.76

1.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 $3.30

$6.90 $6.90

-52.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 $1.01

$2.45 $2.45

-58.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.6 $54.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.49 $3.49

-2.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.58 $1.58

3.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 $28.70

$29.22 $29.22

-1.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.07 $1.07

-24.30%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$29.8K $29.8K

-0.70%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.0K $26.0K

-0.74%

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

$215 $215

$169 $169

27.08%

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

$118 $118

$91.3 $91.3

29.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$82.3 $82.3

-7.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.19 $43.19

$42.44 $42.44

1.77%

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$14.89 $14.89

8.19%

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

$399 $399

$1,299 $1,299

-69.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.9K $23.9K

$23.8K $23.8K

0.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.49 $49.49

$71.4 $71.4

-30.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.4 $63.4

$58.4 $58.4

8.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.8 $74.8

$97.9 $97.9

-23.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$98.6 $98.6

9.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,733 $1,733

$2,360 $2,360

-26.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,797 $1,797

$1,944 $1,944

-7.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,676 $2,676

$3,832 $3,832

-30.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,379 $2,379

$2,855 $2,855

-16.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,862 $2,862

$2,731 $2,731

4.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,839 $2,839

$2,387 $2,387

18.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,045 $6,045

$9,570 $9,570

-36.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.51

-0.92%

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

Last update for Franklin, TN: April 27, 2026

Last update for Salem, MA: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,733 in Franklin, TN versus $2,360 in Salem, MA. 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 58% higher in Salem, MA, 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 $80.0 in Franklin, TN versus $98.0 in Salem, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $400 vs $434 – making Franklin, TN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Franklin, TN vs Salem, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,228 in Franklin, TN, $3,473 in Salem, MA – roughly 8% apart. Salem, MA costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,842 per month in Franklin, TN and $5,209 in Salem, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Franklin, TN, 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 $3,228 in Franklin, TN and $3,473 in Salem, MA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $399 per month in Franklin, TN and $1,299 in Salem, MA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,228 in Franklin, TN and $3,473 in Salem, MA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Salem, MA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,228 in Franklin, TN to $3,473 in Salem, MA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Franklin, TN. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Salem, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.