Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Franklin, TN: $3,122 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $8,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

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

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Franklin, TN

🇺🇸 United States

$3,122

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Franklin, TN

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 Franklin, TN actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,785 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,122 in Franklin, TN, rent included.

Seattle, WA $3,785
Franklin, TN $3,122

A couple spends around $5,688 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,506 in Franklin, TN, rent included.

Seattle, WA $5,688
Franklin, TN $4,506

A family of three spends $7,592 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,889 in Franklin, TN, rent included.

Seattle, WA $7,592
Franklin, TN $5,889

Seattle, WA costs about 21% more than Franklin, TN, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Seattle, WA and Franklin, TN sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 178%, Franklin, TN by 129%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.30 $25.30

$28.12 $28.12

-10.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$87.3 $87.3

15.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.76 $14.76

$11.90 $11.90

24.03%

Cappuccino

$6.50 $6.50

$7.33 $7.33

-11.32%

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

$3.21 $3.21

$3.37 $3.37

-4.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.29 $2.29

37.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$7.55 $7.55

5.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$8.07 $8.07

0.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.31 $1.31

-10.69%

White Bread (500g)

$5.30 $5.30

$3.81 $3.81

39.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

Eggs

$5.06 $5.06

$5.71 $5.71

-11.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.71 $18.71

$15.47 $15.47

20.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.72 $18.72

$17.84 $17.84

4.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.88 $22.88

Apples (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$3.94 $3.94

53.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.93 $1.93

1.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$1.97 $1.97

77.16%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.13 $2.13

54.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.47 $2.47

13.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.49 $12.49

$9.46 $9.46

32.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$12.87 $12.87

15.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 $5.80

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.05 $3.05

$0.98 $0.98

211.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

$61.0 $61.0

73.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.12 $30.12

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$0.87 $0.87

62.07%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$28.1K $28.1K

30.97%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$27.2K $27.2K

-2.28%

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

$308 $308

$214 $214

44.07%

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

$69.2 $69.2

$116 $116

-40.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.1 $86.1

$90.5 $90.5

-4.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.5 $76.5

$58.6 $58.6

30.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.50 $35.50

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$16.06 $16.06

12.20%

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

$2,746 $2,746

$397 $397

591.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.2 $79.2

$98.6 $98.6

-19.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.3 $54.3

$63.7 $63.7

-14.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$75.6 $75.6

67.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$112 $112

41.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,508 $2,508

$1,924 $1,924

30.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,938 $1,938

$1,677 $1,677

15.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,117 $5,117

$3,203 $3,203

59.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,542 $3,542

$2,711 $2,711

30.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,374 $7,374

$3,526 $3,526

109.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,002 $5,002

$2,932 $2,932

70.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,470 $6,470

$6,239 $6,239

3.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.89

6.59

4.55%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Franklin, TN: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2%

Franklin, TN

–

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5%

Franklin, TN

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2%

Franklin, TN

–

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7%

Franklin, TN

–

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$189 5%

Franklin, TN

–

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4%

Franklin, TN

–

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$112 3%

Franklin, TN

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,508 in Seattle, WA versus $1,924 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 4% 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 $87 in Franklin, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $287 – making Franklin, TN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 Franklin, TN

🕒 Local time

08:23 8:23 AM

10:23 10:23 AM

2 h ahead of Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

83,454

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Seattle, WA Franklin, TN 3,180 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Seattle, WA
Franklin, TN

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 Franklin, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,785 in Seattle, WA, $3,122 in Franklin, TN – Franklin, TN comes out roughly 18% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,677 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,683 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,924 there versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA.

Public transport costs about 42% less in Franklin, TN. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,746 per month in Seattle, WA and $397 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 $3,785 in Seattle, WA and $3,122 in Franklin, TN. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,122 in Franklin, TN to $3,785 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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