Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Tupelo, MS

For one person, living is cheaper in Tupelo, MS: $1,868 a month against $3,782 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $23,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,782
/mo nomad
Tupelo, MS
🇺🇸 United States
$1,868
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Tupelo, MS

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 Tupelo, MS actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,782 in Seattle, WA versus $1,868 in Tupelo, MS.

  • Seattle, WA $3,782
  • Tupelo, MS $1,868

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,636 in Seattle, WA versus $2,728 in Tupelo, MS.

  • Seattle, WA $5,636
  • Tupelo, MS $2,728

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,489 in Seattle, WA versus $3,588 in Tupelo, MS.

  • Seattle, WA $7,489
  • Tupelo, MS $3,588

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 102% more expensive than in Tupelo, MS, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Tupelo, MS 38% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.52 $24.52
$16.96 $16.96
44.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.2 $98.2
$74.1 $74.1
32.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.79 $14.79
$11.18 $11.18
32.29%
Cappuccino
$6.52 $6.52
$5.12 $5.12
27.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 $3.23
$2.47 $2.47
30.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 $3.17
$1.86 $1.86
70.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.85 $7.85
$6.10 $6.10
28.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.03 $8.03
$7.41 $7.41
8.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$0.86 $0.86
40.70%
White Bread (500g)
$5.14 $5.14
$3.21 $3.21
60.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$1.50 $1.50
303.33%
Eggs
$4.88 $4.88
$4.34 $4.34
12.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.18 $19.18
$9.54 $9.54
101.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.91 $18.91
$7.68 $7.68
146.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.31 $23.31
$14.90 $14.90
56.44%
Apples (1kg)
$5.99 $5.99
$3.10 $3.10
93.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.09 $1.09
77.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.25 $5.25
$3.33 $3.33
57.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.57 $6.57
$2.11 $2.11
211.37%
Potato (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$2.65 $2.65
36.60%
Onion (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$2.18 $2.18
51.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.85 $1.85
50.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.86 $1.86
34.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.18 $12.18
$8.10 $8.10
50.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.83 $14.83
$14.13 $14.13
4.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.22 $4.22
$1.71 $1.71
146.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77 $5.77
$3.17 $3.17
82.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Tupelo, MS
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.95 $2.95
$1.97 $1.97
49.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$106 $106
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.65 $2.65
$4.21 $4.21
-37.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.92 $1.92
-10.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.72 $29.72
$32.66 $32.66
-9.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.74 $0.74
101.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K $35.9K
$29.7K $29.7K
20.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.5K $25.5K
2.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$302 $302
$169 $169
79.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.1 $70.1
$66.9 $66.9
4.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.3 $85.3
$69.0 $69.0
23.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.8 $77.8
$39.42 $39.42
97.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.58 $34.58
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.84 $17.84
$12.19 $12.19
46.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,973 $2,973
$1,537 $1,537
93.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.3K $31.3K
$8,457 $8,457
269.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.6 $76.6
$75.0 $75.0
2.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.1 $54.1
$53.6 $53.6
0.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$128 $128
$87.7 $87.7
46.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$164 $164
$151 $151
8.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Tupelo, MS
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,445 $2,445
$671 $671
264.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,947 $1,947
$713 $713
173.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,744 $4,744
$1,371 $1,371
246.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,469 $3,469
$1,013 $1,013
242.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,367 $7,367
$1,480 $1,480
397.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,127 $5,127
$1,459 $1,459
251.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Tupelo, MS
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,506 $6,506
$2,626 $2,626
147.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.89
6.65
3.61%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 19, 2026

Last update for Tupelo, MS: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
$1.9K
Tupelo, MS
$713 63.4% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
$546
Tupelo, MS
$307 43.8% $239
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
$457
Tupelo, MS
$304 33.4% $153
Eating Out
Seattle, WA
$400
Tupelo, MS
$293 26.6% $106
Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
$190
Tupelo, MS
$165 13.1% $25
Getting Around
Seattle, WA
$129
Tupelo, MS
$22 * 83.2% $108
Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
$114
Tupelo, MS
$64 43.8% $50

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,445 in Seattle, WA and $671 in Tupelo, MS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 148% 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: $98.0 in Seattle, WA vs $74.0 in Tupelo, MS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $546 vs $307 per month, with Tupelo, MS cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 Tupelo, MS
🕒 Local time
11:13 11:13 AM
13:13 1:13 PM
2 h ahead of Seattle, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
737,015
38,114
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Seattle, WA Tupelo, MS 3,160 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Seattle, WA
  • Tupelo, MS

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 Tupelo, MS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tupelo, MS cheaper than Seattle, WA?
Tupelo, MS is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 102% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Seattle, WA or Tupelo, MS?
Average pay runs 148% 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.
What is the rent difference between Seattle, WA and Tupelo, MS?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,445 in Seattle, WA versus $671 in Tupelo, MS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $2,973 in Seattle, WA versus $1,537 in Tupelo, MS. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Seattle, WA or in Tupelo, MS?
Dining out is cheaper in Tupelo, MS – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $98.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Seattle, WA or in Tupelo, MS?
At $1,868 in Tupelo, MS versus $3,782 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tupelo, MS but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Tupelo, MS the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Seattle, WA or Tupelo, MS more family-friendly?
For families, Tupelo, MS is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Tupelo, MS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 102% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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