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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,425 per month in Salem, MA vs $3,187 in Franklin, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,775 per month in Salem, MA vs $4,372 in Franklin, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,125 per month in Salem, MA vs $5,557 in Franklin, TN, rent included.

Salem, MA costs about 7% more than Franklin, TN, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Salem, MA and Franklin, TN sit above the global median – Salem, MA by 155%, Franklin, TN by 137%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.45 $25.45

$27.47 $27.47

-7.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$79.5 $79.5

26.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 $10.90

$11.57 $11.57

-5.79%

Cappuccino

$5.02 $5.02

$6.73 $6.73

-25.41%

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

$2.46 $2.46

$3.25 $3.25

-24.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.44 $2.44

-9.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.79 $7.79

$7.65 $7.65

1.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.92 $6.92

$8.07 $8.07

-14.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.33 $1.33

-6.77%

White Bread (500g)

$4.30 $4.30

$3.93 $3.93

9.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.92 $8.92

$4.42 $4.42

101.81%

Eggs

$4.24 $4.24

$5.91 $5.91

-28.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.45 $14.45

$15.32 $15.32

-5.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$11.30 $11.30

26.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.04 $9.04

$15.15 $15.15

-40.33%

Apples (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$3.80 $3.80

19.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.92 $1.92

-30.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.35 $3.35

$4.28 $4.28

-21.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.69 $4.69

$4.77 $4.77

-1.68%

Potato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.99 $1.99

119.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.14 $2.14

13.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.49 $2.49

-2.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.20 $2.20

59.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.72 $9.72

$9.31 $9.31

4.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.74 $12.74

$13.23 $13.23

-3.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.80 $1.80

-2.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.12 $7.12

$3.46 $3.46

105.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.01 $1.01

143.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.3 $54.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.55 $3.55

0.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.66 $1.66

-4.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.70 $29.70

$29.68 $29.68

0.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.77 $0.77

35.06%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$30.2K $30.2K

-1.87%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

-0.14%

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

$172 $172

$212 $212

-18.74%

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

$90.4 $90.4

$119 $119

-23.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.2 $84.2

$74.9 $74.9

12.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.70 $42.70

$41.94 $41.94

1.81%

Cinema Ticket

$14.79 $14.79

$15.93 $15.93

-7.16%

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

$1,286 $1,286

$400 $400

221.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$23.5K $23.5K

-1.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.7 $71.7

$49.61 $49.61

44.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.2 $57.2

$63.5 $63.5

-9.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$74.0 $74.0

31.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$112 $112

-9.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,351 $2,351

$1,766 $1,766

33.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,001 $2,001

$1,758 $1,758

13.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,819 $3,819

$2,724 $2,724

40.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,845 $2,845

$2,394 $2,394

18.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,685 $2,685

$2,763 $2,763

-2.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,380 $2,380

$2,859 $2,859

-16.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,501 $9,501

$6,127 $6,127

55.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.45

0.93%

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

Last update for Salem, MA: June 7, 2026

Last update for Franklin, TN: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,351 in Salem, MA versus $1,766 in Franklin, TN. 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 55% 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 $101 in Salem, MA versus $79.0 in Franklin, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $436 vs $402 – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,425 in Salem, MA, $3,187 in Franklin, TN – roughly 7% apart. Salem, MA costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,137 per month in Salem, MA and $4,780 in Franklin, TN. 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 $3,425 in Salem, MA and $3,187 in Franklin, TN. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,286 per month in Salem, MA and $400 in Franklin, TN. 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 $3,425 in Salem, MA and $3,187 in Franklin, TN. 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 $3,187 in Franklin, TN to $3,425 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.