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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $3,005 in Nashville, TN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $4,609 in Nashville, TN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $6,213 in Nashville, TN.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 19% more expensive than in Nashville, TN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Nashville, TN 125% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$17.97 $17.97

37.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$81.3 $81.3

46.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$10.18 $10.18

39.00%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.81 $5.81

-1.72%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.98 $2.98

-1.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.51 $2.51

0.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$6.66 $6.66

18.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$8.19 $8.19

-1.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.16 $1.16

17.24%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.97 $3.97

27.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$4.58 $4.58

14.63%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$3.94 $3.94

75.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$12.02 $12.02

107.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$15.54 $15.54

1.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$16.39 $16.39

26.42%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.52 $4.52

36.95%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.46 $1.46

91.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.73 $5.73

-3.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$5.32 $5.32

20.68%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.57 $3.57

-11.48%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.96 $3.96

-1.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.05 $2.05

31.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.78 $2.78

-8.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$9.07 $9.07

25.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$15.63 $15.63

0.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.03 $2.03

41.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$4.31 $4.31

-1.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.96 $1.96

38.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$68.1 $68.1

45.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$5.09 $5.09

-49.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.56 $1.56

4.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$20.82 $20.82

42.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.85 $0.85

34.12%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$31.9K $31.9K

2.98%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

0.22%

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

$264 $264

$201 $201

31.50%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$69.1 $69.1

-10.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$72.4 $72.4

4.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$41.04 $41.04

90.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

$17.86 $17.86

125.53%

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$14.97 $14.97

7.62%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,260 $1,260

75.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$30.2K $30.2K

-3.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$61.0 $61.0

13.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$47.58 $47.58

12.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$91.4 $91.4

30.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$136 $136

4.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,861 $1,861

26.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,642 $1,642

11.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$4,097 $4,097

14.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$2,997 $2,997

19.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$7,769 $7,769

-2.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$2,644 $2,644

90.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$4,462 $4,462

45.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.52

-1.53%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Nashville, TN: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $1,861 in Nashville, TN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 45% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $81.0 in Nashville, TN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $439 per month, with Nashville, 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 Nashville, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Nashville, TN differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($3,565 vs $3,005 including rent). Nashville, TN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 45% 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: $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,861 in Nashville, TN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,212 in Seattle, WA versus $1,260 in Nashville, TN. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Nashville, TN is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Nashville, TN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.