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 $3,007 per month in Tacoma, WA vs $3,028 in Atlanta, GA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,409 per month in Tacoma, WA vs $4,433 in Atlanta, GA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,811 per month in Tacoma, WA vs $5,837 in Atlanta, GA, rent included.

Tacoma, WA is about 1% cheaper than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Tacoma, WA and Atlanta, GA sit above the global median – Tacoma, WA by 119%, Atlanta, GA by 120%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.97 $24.97

$30.11 $30.11

-17.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.9 $79.9

$113 $113

-29.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.94 $11.94

$11.90 $11.90

0.34%

Cappuccino

$5.68 $5.68

$5.46 $5.46

4.03%

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

$3.16 $3.16

$2.93 $2.93

7.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.02 $2.02

24.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.20 $7.20

$7.37 $7.37

-2.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.95 $6.95

$8.16 $8.16

-14.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$0.92 $0.92

20.65%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$3.51 $3.51

17.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.00 $6.00

$3.63 $3.63

65.29%

Eggs

$5.58 $5.58

$4.94 $4.94

12.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 $16.04

$14.85 $14.85

8.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$22.00 $22.00

$15.71 $15.71

40.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.51 $23.51

$21.57 $21.57

8.99%

Apples (1kg)

$5.05 $5.05

$6.24 $6.24

-19.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.44 $1.44

17.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$6.03 $6.03

-30.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$5.25 $5.25

-10.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.65 $3.65

-26.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.60 $2.60

16.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.15 $2.15

-17.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.37 $3.37

$2.69 $2.69

25.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.95 $11.95

$8.44 $8.44

41.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.31 $18.31

$15.12 $15.12

21.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$3.88 $3.88

-55.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 $4.75

$4.92 $4.92

-3.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.47 $2.47

-17.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.1 $61.1

$111 $111

-44.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.41 $3.41

-21.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.52 $1.52

11.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.91 $29.91

$23.96 $23.96

24.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.92 $0.92

38.04%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$36.6K $36.6K

-0.95%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$25.9K $25.9K

6.95%

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

$230 $230

$195 $195

17.70%

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

$92.9 $92.9

$69.8 $69.8

32.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$84.2 $84.2

4.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.65 $42.65

$32.44 $32.44

31.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.46 $18.46

$16.65 $16.65

10.87%

Cinema Ticket

$17.27 $17.27

$17.01 $17.01

1.53%

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

$2,069 $2,069

$1,877 $1,877

10.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.4K $32.4K

$22.5K $22.5K

43.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$53.7 $53.7

15.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.09 $45.09

$45.30 $45.30

-0.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.7 $83.7

$95.5 $95.5

-12.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 $128

$106 $106

20.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,750 $1,750

$2,081 $2,081

-15.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,440 $1,440

$1,487 $1,487

-3.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,873 $2,873

$3,518 $3,518

-18.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,373 $2,373

$2,139 $2,139

10.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,906 $4,906

$3,851 $3,851

27.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,578 $3,578

$2,574 $2,574

38.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,839 $4,839

$5,365 $5,365

-9.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.09

6.18

-1.46%

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

Last update for Tacoma, WA: August 30, 2026

Last update for Atlanta, GA: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,750 in Tacoma, WA versus $2,081 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 11% higher in Atlanta, GA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Tacoma, WA versus $113 in Atlanta, GA. Groceries tell a different story – $519 in Tacoma, WA vs $473 in Atlanta, GA – so Atlanta, GA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 – Atlanta, GA is pricier by about 1%, 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 $4,511 per month in Tacoma, WA and $4,542 in Atlanta, GA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Atlanta, GA – 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 $80.0 in Tacoma, WA and $113 in Atlanta, GA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,007 in Tacoma, WA and $3,028 in Atlanta, GA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Tacoma, WA – 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 Tacoma, WA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Atlanta, GA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.