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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,604 in Seattle, WA versus $2,607 in Knoxville, TN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $3,706 in Knoxville, TN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,494 in Seattle, WA versus $4,804 in Knoxville, TN.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 38% more expensive than in Knoxville, TN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Knoxville, TN 95% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$18.12 $18.12

36.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$84.8 $84.8

43.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$9.89 $9.89

41.76%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.96 $5.96

-6.71%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.57 $2.57

18.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.47 $2.47

-3.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$6.66 $6.66

19.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.24 $6.24

29.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.02 $1.02

35.29%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$3.77 $3.77

31.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$3.79 $3.79

41.16%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$3.71 $3.71

77.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$9.91 $9.91

150.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$8.98 $8.98

77.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$15.83 $15.83

27.67%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$6.34 $6.34

-2.68%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.41 $1.41

95.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$2.67 $2.67

101.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$5.33 $5.33

22.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.16 $2.16

48.61%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.72 $4.72

-20.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.33 $2.33

21.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.16 $2.16

21.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$9.01 $9.01

29.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$15.17 $15.17

1.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.83 $1.83

54.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$2.81 $2.81

51.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.03 $1.03

167.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

$29.57 $29.57

230.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$5.12 $5.12

-49.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.51 $1.51

9.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$30.20 $30.20

-1.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.79 $0.79

44.30%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$30.0K $30.0K

10.64%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.4K $26.4K

-1.68%

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

$270 $270

$235 $235

14.63%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$55.0 $55.0

8.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$69.1 $69.1

7.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$34.22 $34.22

127.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

$24.92 $24.92

64.65%

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$14.73 $14.73

7.13%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$1,134 $1,134

100.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$20.5K $20.5K

45.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$55.8 $55.8

25.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$60.1 $60.1

-13.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$108 $108

8.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$119 $119

20.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,675 $1,675

39.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$1,311 $1,311

44.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$3,273 $3,273

45.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$1,841 $1,841

88.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$4,765 $4,765

61.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$2,263 $2,263

120.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

$3,541 $3,541

87.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.59

-2.58%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 19, 2026

Last update for Knoxville, TN: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Seattle, WA and $1,675 in Knoxville, TN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 88% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $122 in Seattle, WA vs $85.0 in Knoxville, TN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $541 vs $374 per month, with Knoxville, TN cheaper across the board.

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 Knoxville, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Knoxville, TN wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Knoxville, TN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 88% higher in Seattle, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $1,675 in Knoxville, TN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Knoxville, TN – a meal for two runs $85.0 versus $122 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Knoxville, TN is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Knoxville, TN delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,607 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Knoxville, TN hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Knoxville, TN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.