Last update: Oct 2026

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

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.

184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index
143

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

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,947

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Atlanta, GA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Atlanta, GA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Seattle, WA costs about 28% more than Atlanta, GA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.30 $25.30

$31.94 $31.94

-20.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$113 $113

-10.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.76 $14.76

$12.15 $12.15

21.48%

Cappuccino

$6.50 $6.50

$5.64 $5.64

15.25%

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

$3.21 $3.21

$2.89 $2.89

11.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.17 $2.17

44.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$6.52 $6.52

22.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$7.95 $7.95

2.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.92 $0.92

27.17%

White Bread (500g)

$5.30 $5.30

$3.44 $3.44

54.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$3.74 $3.74

71.12%

Eggs

$5.06 $5.06

$4.76 $4.76

6.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.71 $18.71

$13.96 $13.96

34.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.72 $18.72

$14.52 $14.52

28.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.88 $22.88

$19.69 $19.69

16.20%

Apples (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$5.81 $5.81

4.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.44 $1.44

35.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$6.08 $6.08

-9.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$5.45 $5.45

19.63%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.67 $3.67

-4.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.57 $2.57

28.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.28 $2.28

22.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.75 $2.75

-6.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.49 $12.49

$9.12 $9.12

36.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$14.81 $14.81

0.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.80 $3.80

10.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 $5.80

$5.10 $5.10

13.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.44 $2.44

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

$96.4 $96.4

9.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.48 $3.48

-25.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.48 $1.48

10.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.12 $30.12

$23.92 $23.92

25.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$0.99 $0.99

42.42%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$37.0K $37.0K

-0.64%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.3K $26.3K

1.24%

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

$308 $308

$219 $219

40.51%

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

$69.2 $69.2

$70.6 $70.6

-1.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.1 $86.1

$84.9 $84.9

1.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.5 $76.5

$30.53 $30.53

150.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.50 $35.50

$16.12 $16.12

120.22%

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$16.90 $16.90

6.63%

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

$2,746 $2,746

$1,808 $1,808

51.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$22.4K $22.4K

36.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.2 $79.2

$52.3 $52.3

51.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.3 $54.3

$44.16 $44.16

22.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$98.2 $98.2

29.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$108 $108

46.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,508 $2,508

$1,981 $1,981

26.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,938 $1,938

$1,369 $1,369

41.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,117 $5,117

$3,186 $3,186

60.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,542 $3,542

$2,070 $2,070

71.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,374 $7,374

$3,592 $3,592

105.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,002 $5,002

$2,490 $2,490

100.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,470 $6,470

$5,391 $5,391

20.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.89

6.51

5.84%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Atlanta, GA: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2%

Atlanta, GA

$1.4K 46.5% 29.4% $569

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5%

Atlanta, GA

$458 15.5% 16.4% $89

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2%

Atlanta, GA

$374 12.7% 19.1% $88

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7%

Atlanta, GA

$428 14.5% 5.4% $22

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$189 5%

Atlanta, GA

$136 4.6% 27.7% $52

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4%

Atlanta, GA

$117 4% 9.2% $12

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$112 3%

Atlanta, GA

$64 2.2% 42.8% $48

Cost Breakdown

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

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 Atlanta, GA

🕒 Local time

00:02 12:02 AM

03:02 3:02 AM

3 h ahead of Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

510,823

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

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

From you

Seattle, WA
Atlanta, GA

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

Seattle, WA vs Atlanta, GA: 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 $5,677 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,421 in Atlanta, GA. 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 $101 in Seattle, WA and $113 in Atlanta, GA. 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 $3,785 in Seattle, WA and $2,947 in Atlanta, GA. 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.