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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,293 per month in Puyallup, WA vs $2,953 in Atlanta, GA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,341 per month in Puyallup, WA vs $4,302 in Atlanta, GA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,388 per month in Puyallup, WA vs $5,651 in Atlanta, GA, rent included.

Puyallup, WA costs about 11% more than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Puyallup, WA and Atlanta, GA sit above the global median – Puyallup, WA by 146%, Atlanta, GA by 121%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Puyallup, WA
Atlanta, GA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.86 $24.86
$21.19 $21.19
17.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.1 $71.1
$89.8 $89.8
-20.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.80 $13.80
$12.15 $12.15
13.58%
Cappuccino
$6.16 $6.16
$4.80 $4.80
28.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 $2.89
$2.76 $2.76
4.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.21 $2.21
13.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.66 $7.66
$6.03 $6.03
27.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.82 $7.82
$8.13 $8.13
-3.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Puyallup, WA
Atlanta, GA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.00 $1.00
16.00%
White Bread (500g)
$4.31 $4.31
$3.96 $3.96
8.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.50 $6.50
$5.57 $5.57
16.70%
Eggs
$5.29 $5.29
$4.20 $4.20
25.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.88 $17.88
$13.45 $13.45
32.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.91 $15.91
$15.99 $15.99
-0.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.25 $20.25
$17.36 $17.36
16.65%
Apples (1kg)
$5.22 $5.22
$7.17 $7.17
-27.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.54 $1.54
10.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.13 $5.13
$6.77 $6.77
-24.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.19 $6.19
$5.85 $5.85
5.81%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.45 $3.45
-9.86%
Onion (1kg)
$3.33 $3.33
$3.29 $3.29
1.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.43 $2.43
11.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$3.00 $3.00
-15.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.87 $10.87
$7.29 $7.29
49.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.86 $17.86
$14.86 $14.86
20.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$3.43 $3.43
-48.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21 $4.21
$5.74 $5.74
-26.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Puyallup, WA
Atlanta, GA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.56 $2.56
14.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$95.6 $95.6
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.65 $2.65
$3.44 $3.44
-22.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.52 $1.52
33.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.04 $30.04
$23.92 $23.92
25.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 $1.20
$0.88 $0.88
36.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K $32.8K
$35.8K $35.8K
-8.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$25.9K $25.9K
-0.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puyallup, WA
Atlanta, GA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$264 $264
$191 $191
38.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$71.1 $71.1
$57.7 $57.7
23.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.0 $75.0
$71.9 $71.9
4.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Puyallup, WA
Atlanta, GA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.60 $29.60
$45.19 $45.19
-34.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$9.97 $9.97
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.71 $15.71
$16.43 $16.43
-4.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Puyallup, WA
Atlanta, GA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,080 $2,080
$1,244 $1,244
67.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.9K $28.9K
$25.4K $25.4K
13.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Puyallup, WA
Atlanta, GA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7 $59.7
$52.2 $52.2
14.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.04 $44.04
$39.21 $39.21
12.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.2 $93.2
$100 $100
-7.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 $135
$114 $114
18.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Puyallup, WA
Atlanta, GA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,784 $1,784
$1,807 $1,807
-1.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,746 $1,746
$1,547 $1,547
12.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,288 $2,288
$3,091 $3,091
-25.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,080 $2,080
$2,327 $2,327
-10.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,901 $3,901
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,582 $2,582
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Puyallup, WA
Atlanta, GA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,769 $6,769
$5,171 $5,171
30.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.54
-1.83%

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

Last update for Puyallup, WA: July 14, 2026

Last update for Atlanta, GA: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,784 in Puyallup, WA versus $1,807 in Atlanta, GA. 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 31% 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 $71.0 in Puyallup, WA versus $90.0 in Atlanta, GA. Groceries tell a different story – $494 in Puyallup, WA vs $484 in Atlanta, GA – 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
Puyallup, WA vs Atlanta, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Atlanta, GA cheaper than Puyallup, WA?
Yes – Puyallup, WA is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,939 per month in Puyallup, WA and $4,430 in Atlanta, GA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Puyallup, WA and in Atlanta, GA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,293 in Puyallup, WA and $2,953 in Atlanta, GA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,080 per month in Puyallup, WA and $1,244 in Atlanta, GA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Puyallup, WA or in Atlanta, GA?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,293 in Puyallup, WA and $2,953 in Atlanta, GA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Puyallup, WA or Atlanta, GA more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

Puyallup, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities