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: $3,604 in Seattle, WA versus $1,887 in Tupelo, MS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $3,515 in Tupelo, MS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,494 in Seattle, WA versus $5,144 in Tupelo, MS.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 91% more expensive than in Tupelo, MS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Tupelo, MS 41% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$16.20 $16.20

52.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$63.2 $63.2

92.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$9.92 $9.92

41.33%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.94 $4.94

12.55%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.36 $2.36

29.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.96 $1.96

21.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$6.09 $6.09

30.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.89 $6.89

17.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.89 $0.89

55.06%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$3.36 $3.36

47.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$1.50 $1.50

256.67%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$4.35 $4.35

51.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$12.19 $12.19

104.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$7.46 $7.46

113.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$15.29 $15.29

32.18%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$2.97 $2.97

107.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.12 $1.12

146.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.51 $3.51

53.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$2.19 $2.19

197.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.61 $3.61

-11.08%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.22 $2.22

68.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.91 $1.91

48.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.52 $1.52

72.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$7.80 $7.80

49.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$13.74 $13.74

12.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.71 $1.71

65.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$3.29 $3.29

29.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.02 $2.02

36.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.98 $4.98

-47.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.74 $1.74

-5.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$18.01 $18.01

65.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.75 $0.75

52.00%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$35.6K $35.6K

-6.77%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.0K $26.0K

-0.38%

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

$270 $270

$182 $182

47.81%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$50.9 $50.9

17.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$67.4 $67.4

10.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$40.22 $40.22

93.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$9.43 $9.43

67.34%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$983 $983

131.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$8,495 $8,495

251.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$43.19 $43.19

61.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$35.95 $35.95

45.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$88.1 $88.1

33.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$127 $127

13.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,415 $1,415

64.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$743 $743

155.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$1,518 $1,518

213.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$2,783 $2,783

24.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$1,507 $1,507

411.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$1,458 $1,458

241.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

$2,710 $2,710

145.09%

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: July 19, 2026

Last update for Tupelo, MS: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Seattle, WA and $1,415 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: $122 in Seattle, WA vs $63.0 in Tupelo, MS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $541 vs $316 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 91% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 145% 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 $1,415 in Tupelo, MS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,279 in Seattle, WA versus $983 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 $122 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,887 in Tupelo, MS versus $3,604 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 91% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.