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: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $1,856 in Tupelo, MS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $2,695 in Tupelo, MS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $3,535 in Tupelo, MS.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 107% more expensive than in Tupelo, MS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Tupelo, MS 35% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$16.79 $16.79

46.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$73.9 $73.9

34.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$10.99 $10.99

37.31%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$4.88 $4.88

35.66%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.39 $2.39

30.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.91 $1.91

56.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$5.88 $5.88

38.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.38 $7.38

6.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.86 $0.86

36.05%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$2.96 $2.96

75.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$1.50 $1.50

326.67%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$4.33 $4.33

13.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$9.70 $9.70

121.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$7.43 $7.43

150.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$15.13 $15.13

52.35%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$2.94 $2.94

96.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.07 $1.07

75.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.85 $3.85

39.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$2.21 $2.21

185.07%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.53 $2.53

50.20%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.19 $2.19

48.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.89 $1.89

51.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.87 $1.87

44.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$7.88 $7.88

79.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$14.02 $14.02

7.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.65 $1.65

164.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.28 $3.28

75.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.03 $2.03

50.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.27 $4.27

-39.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.93 $1.93

-14.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$32.97 $32.97

-9.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.73 $0.73

89.04%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$34.0K $34.0K

7.16%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.7K $25.7K

-2.32%

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

$296 $296

$166 $166

78.17%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$66.3 $66.3

7.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$70.5 $70.5

24.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$39.22 $39.22

107.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$11.89 $11.89

54.16%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,575 $1,575

94.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$8,320 $8,320

267.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$73.3 $73.3

4.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$51.8 $51.8

4.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$86.9 $86.9

46.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$150 $150

9.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$680 $680

255.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$696 $696

177.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$1,374 $1,374

246.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$1,016 $1,016

252.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$1,466 $1,466

404.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$1,480 $1,480

241.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$2,701 $2,701

134.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.23

3.05%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Tupelo, MS: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $680 in Tupelo, MS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 134% 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: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $74.0 in Tupelo, MS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $306 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 107% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 134% 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: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $680 in Tupelo, MS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,067 in Seattle, WA versus $1,575 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 $74.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,856 in Tupelo, MS versus $3,836 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 107% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.