Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacoma, WA and Atlanta, GA Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacoma, WA and Atlanta, GA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,293 per month in Tacoma, WA vs $2,953 in Atlanta, GA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,590 per month in Tacoma, WA vs $4,302 in Atlanta, GA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,888 per month in Tacoma, WA vs $5,651 in Atlanta, GA, rent included.

Tacoma, WA costs about 11% more than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Tacoma, WA and Atlanta, GA sit above the global median – Tacoma, WA by 146%, Atlanta, GA by 121%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.56 $16.56

$21.19 $21.19

-21.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.3 $71.3

$89.8 $89.8

-20.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.67 $12.67

$12.15 $12.15

4.28%

Cappuccino

$6.03 $6.03

$4.80 $4.80

25.63%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.76 $2.76

7.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.21 $2.21

0.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.57 $7.57

$6.03 $6.03

25.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.98 $11.98

$8.13 $8.13

47.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.00 $1.00

11.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.23 $4.23

$3.96 $3.96

6.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.30 $8.30

$5.57 $5.57

49.01%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$4.20 $4.20

16.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.37 $11.37

$13.45 $13.45

-15.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.12 $16.12

$15.99 $15.99

0.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.23 $19.23

$17.36 $17.36

10.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.24 $5.24

$7.17 $7.17

-26.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.54 $1.54

7.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$6.77 $6.77

-27.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$5.85 $5.85

-12.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$3.45 $3.45

-6.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$3.29 $3.29

-13.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.43 $2.43

-18.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.00 $3.00

-2.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.88 $10.88

$7.29 $7.29

49.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.24 $18.24

$14.86 $14.86

22.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$3.43 $3.43

-51.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.51 $6.51

$5.74 $5.74

13.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.9 $60.9

$95.6 $95.6

-36.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 $2.62

$3.44 $3.44

-23.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.52 $1.52

7.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.62 $29.62

$23.92 $23.92

23.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.88 $0.88

37.50%

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

$37.2K $37.2K

$35.8K $35.8K

3.73%

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

$27.3K $27.3K

$25.9K $25.9K

5.23%

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

$227 $227

$191 $191

19.20%

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

$71.5 $71.5

$57.7 $57.7

23.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.3 $87.3

$71.9 $71.9

21.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.8 $50.8

$45.19 $45.19

12.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.84 $14.84

$9.97 $9.97

48.85%

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$16.43 $16.43

-3.96%

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

$2,069 $2,069

$1,244 $1,244

66.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$25.4K $25.4K

25.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 $58.1

$52.2 $52.2

11.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.22 $45.22

$39.21 $39.21

15.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 $87.5

$100 $100

-12.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 $138

$114 $114

21.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 $1,925

$1,807 $1,807

6.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,749 $1,749

$1,547 $1,547

13.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,109 $3,109

$3,091 $3,091

0.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,749 $2,749

$2,327 $2,327

18.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,758 $4,758

$3,901 $3,901

21.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,519 $3,519

$2,582 $2,582

36.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,884 $4,884

$5,171 $5,171

-5.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.54

-0.46%

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

Last update for Tacoma, WA: July 11, 2026

Last update for Atlanta, GA: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,925 in Tacoma, WA versus $1,807 in Atlanta, GA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 6% higher in Atlanta, GA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Tacoma, WA versus $90.0 in Atlanta, GA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $476 vs $484 – making Tacoma, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Tacoma, WA vs Atlanta, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tacoma, WA is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,939 per month in Tacoma, WA and $4,430 in Atlanta, GA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Atlanta, GA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Tacoma, WA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Tacoma, WA and $90.0 in Atlanta, GA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,293 in Tacoma, WA and $2,953 in Atlanta, GA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Atlanta, GA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Atlanta, GA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tacoma, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.