Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Chattanooga, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Chattanooga, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,533 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,503 in Chattanooga, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,549 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,736 in Chattanooga, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,565 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,969 in Chattanooga, TN, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 41% more than Chattanooga, TN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Chattanooga, TN sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 165%, Chattanooga, TN by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.41 $25.41

$16.38 $16.38

55.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$78.5 $78.5

54.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.81 $13.81

$11.22 $11.22

23.08%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$4.98 $4.98

17.67%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.53 $2.53

18.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.18 $2.18

10.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 $7.90

$6.07 $6.07

30.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.33 $7.33

11.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.03 $1.03

35.92%

White Bread (500g)

$4.90 $4.90

$3.61 $3.61

35.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$4.81 $4.81

7.69%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.14 $4.14

65.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.93 $24.93

$13.43 $13.43

85.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.69 $15.69

$13.55 $13.55

15.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.12 $20.12

$12.49 $12.49

61.09%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$6.39 $6.39

-5.95%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.51 $1.51

88.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$4.29 $4.29

25.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$3.69 $3.69

80.76%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$3.45 $3.45

-8.99%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.39 $3.39

8.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.28 $2.28

22.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$3.09 $3.09

-14.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$7.36 $7.36

53.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.53 $15.53

$17.83 $17.83

-12.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.92 $1.92

49.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 $4.20

$3.60 $3.60

16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.92 $3.92

-29.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.0 $97.0

$49.48 $49.48

96.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.78 $1.78

46.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.52 $1.52

9.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.75 $29.75

$23.55 $23.55

26.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.77 $0.77

48.05%

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

$33.4K $33.4K

$25.4K $25.4K

31.16%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.1K $26.1K

0.90%

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

$263 $263

$143 $143

83.85%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$55.6 $55.6

9.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.6 $74.6

$70.9 $70.9

5.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.7 $79.7

$39.84 $39.84

100.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.05 $41.05

Cinema Ticket

$15.81 $15.81

$12.73 $12.73

24.19%

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

$2,289 $2,289

$1,041 $1,041

119.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$25.4K $25.4K

16.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 $68.1

$40.82 $40.82

66.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$31.48 $31.48

65.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$99.7 $99.7

17.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$113 $113

23.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 $2,377

$1,503 $1,503

58.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,874 $1,874

$1,270 $1,270

47.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$3,546 $3,546

34.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,575 $3,575

$2,124 $2,124

68.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,026 $8,026

$2,242 $2,242

257.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,203 $5,203

$2,277 $2,277

128.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,621 $6,621

$3,866 $3,866

71.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.45

-0.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 14, 2026

Last update for Chattanooga, TN: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,377 in Seattle, WA versus $1,503 in Chattanooga, 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 71% 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 $121 in Seattle, WA versus $78.0 in Chattanooga, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $540 vs $420 – making Chattanooga, 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

Seattle, WA vs Chattanooga, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 41% more than Chattanooga, TN, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,300 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,754 in Chattanooga, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chattanooga, 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 $3,533 in Seattle, WA and $2,503 in Chattanooga, TN. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 96% less in Chattanooga, TN. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,533 in Seattle, WA and $2,503 in Chattanooga, TN. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chattanooga, TN costs $2,503 versus $3,533 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Chattanooga, TN. 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.