Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Johnson City, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Johnson City, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,069 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,019 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,968 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 74% more than Johnson City, TN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Johnson City, TN sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Johnson City, TN by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$12.78 $12.78

94.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$49.26 $49.26

138.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$11.80 $11.80

16.69%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$3.79 $3.79

50.66%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.10 $2.10

45.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.74 $1.74

43.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.06 $5.06

54.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$5.85 $5.85

34.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.00 $1.00

35.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.83 $3.83

32.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.06 $3.06

76.14%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.28 $3.28

108.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$7.49 $7.49

234.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$8.43 $8.43

88.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$13.30 $13.30

54.81%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.01 $4.01

53.12%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.62 $1.62

74.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$3.96 $3.96

39.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$3.61 $3.61

86.70%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.44 $2.44

29.10%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.65 $3.65

4.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.86 $1.86

44.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.22 $2.22

18.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$7.33 $7.33

58.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$13.20 $13.20

18.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.62 $1.62

80.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.09 $4.09

3.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.56 $2.56

10.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$37.08 $37.08

170.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$5.40 $5.40

-51.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.48 $1.48

16.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$64.1 $64.1

-52.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.78 $0.78

52.56%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.9K $29.9K

9.38%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$22.4K $22.4K

16.55%

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

$263 $263

$151 $151

74.21%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$74.6 $74.6

-18.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$52.1 $52.1

45.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$47.39 $47.39

67.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$20.31 $20.31

96.41%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$12.94 $12.94

25.73%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$909 $909

150.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$14.7K $14.7K

99.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$39.32 $39.32

74.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$36.77 $36.77

41.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$62.7 $62.7

84.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$116 $116

23.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,182 $1,182

97.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,023 $1,023

82.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,035 $2,035

127.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$1,636 $1,636

112.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,156 $2,156

260.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,218 $2,218

135.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,409 $3,409

94.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.15

4.39%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Johnson City, TN: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,182 in Johnson City, 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 94% 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 $118 in Seattle, WA versus $49.00 in Johnson City, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $333 – making Johnson City, 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 Johnson City, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 74%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,397 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,104 in Johnson City, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Johnson City, TN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Seattle, WA and $49.00 in Johnson City, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,069 in Johnson City, TN. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Johnson City, TN, where all-in costs run around $2,069, than in Seattle, WA at $3,598. In Johnson City, TN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Johnson City, TN – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Johnson City, 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.