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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,539 in Seattle, WA versus $1,843 in Tupelo, MS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,510 in Seattle, WA versus $3,483 in Tupelo, MS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,481 in Seattle, WA versus $5,124 in Tupelo, MS.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 92% more expensive than Tupelo, MS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 163% above, Tupelo, MS 37% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.25 $25.25

$16.61 $16.61

52.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$63.0 $63.0

90.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.79 $13.79

$9.94 $9.94

38.73%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.86 $4.86

15.43%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.33 $2.33

28.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.91 $1.91

30.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$5.93 $5.93

32.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$7.02 $7.02

12.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.90 $0.90

51.11%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.35 $3.35

45.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$1.47 $1.47

261.22%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$4.28 $4.28

54.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.48 $24.48

$12.43 $12.43

96.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.02 $16.02

$7.58 $7.58

111.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.57 $20.57

$15.51 $15.51

32.62%

Apples (1kg)

$6.10 $6.10

$3.04 $3.04

100.66%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.13 $1.13

154.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$3.52 $3.52

58.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$2.12 $2.12

217.92%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$3.62 $3.62

-11.60%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.20 $2.20

72.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.84 $1.84

47.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.56 $1.56

67.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.71 $11.71

$8.09 $8.09

44.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 $15.81

$14.15 $14.15

11.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.66 $1.66

71.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.17 $3.17

38.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.95 $1.95

37.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.9 $98.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 $2.63

$4.95 $4.95

-46.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.74 $1.74

-5.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.86 $29.86

$17.81 $17.81

67.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.76 $0.76

50.00%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$35.7K $35.7K

-8.55%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.7K $26.7K

-1.24%

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

$264 $264

$178 $178

48.59%

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

$60.6 $60.6

$50.1 $50.1

20.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$69.2 $69.2

9.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$39.84 $39.84

95.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.01 $40.01

Cinema Ticket

$16.19 $16.19

$9.27 $9.27

74.65%

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

$2,253 $2,253

$991 $991

127.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$8,411 $8,411

253.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 $70.5

$42.51 $42.51

65.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 $51.8

$37.06 $37.06

39.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$87.1 $87.1

36.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$126 $126

12.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,381 $2,381

$1,395 $1,395

70.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,887 $1,887

$755 $755

149.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,752 $4,752

$1,523 $1,523

212.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,585 $3,585

$2,785 $2,785

28.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,850 $7,850

$1,477 $1,477

431.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,213 $5,213

$1,458 $1,458

257.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,446 $6,446

$2,633 $2,633

144.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.55

-1.98%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 13, 2026

Last update for Tupelo, MS: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,381 in Seattle, WA and $1,395 in Tupelo, MS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 145% 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: $120 in Seattle, WA vs $63 in Tupelo, MS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $318 per month, with Tupelo, MS 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 Tupelo, MS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tupelo, MS is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 92% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 145% more on average, 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: $2,381 in Seattle, WA versus $1,395 in Tupelo, MS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,253 in Seattle, WA versus $991 in Tupelo, MS. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Tupelo, MS – a meal for two runs $63.0 versus $120 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,843 in Tupelo, MS versus $3,539 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.

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.

Expats usually find Tupelo, MS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 92% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.