Cost of Living Comparison Between Tempe, AZ and Suwanee, GA Cost of Living Comparison Between Tempe, AZ and Suwanee, GA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,207 in Tempe, AZ versus $3,105 in Suwanee, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,031 in Tempe, AZ versus $4,281 in Suwanee, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,856 in Tempe, AZ versus $5,457 in Suwanee, GA.

Living in Tempe, AZ is roughly 3% more expensive than in Suwanee, GA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tempe, AZ 133% above, Suwanee, GA 126% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$19.78 $19.78

0.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.8 $79.8

$78.6 $78.6

1.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.95 $12.95

$10.03 $10.03

29.11%

Cappuccino

$5.26 $5.26

$5.34 $5.34

-1.50%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.63 $2.63

14.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.12 $2.12

13.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 $5.96

$5.62 $5.62

6.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.35 $7.35

$6.61 $6.61

11.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$0.93 $0.93

7.53%

White Bread (500g)

$4.30 $4.30

$3.01 $3.01

42.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.22 $6.22

$4.64 $4.64

34.05%

Eggs

$4.80 $4.80

$4.04 $4.04

18.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.40 $13.40

$9.62 $9.62

39.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.74 $13.74

$9.14 $9.14

50.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.38 $17.38

$16.31 $16.31

6.56%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.43 $4.43

28.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.36 $1.36

32.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$4.18 $4.18

-0.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.07 $4.07

23.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.70 $3.70

-30.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.73 $3.73

-20.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.37 $2.37

-5.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.59 $2.59

-8.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.50 $10.50

$9.03 $9.03

16.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.66 $13.66

$14.94 $14.94

-8.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.71 $1.71

46.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$3.58 $3.58

-12.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.1 $64.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.95 $2.95

-8.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.55 $1.55

-12.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.99 $35.99

$30.46 $30.46

18.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.82 $0.82

29.27%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

$32.2K $32.2K

10.43%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.3K $25.3K

2.34%

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

$231 $231

$260 $260

-11.20%

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

$59.6 $59.6

$67.2 $67.2

-11.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.1 $75.1

$89.9 $89.9

-16.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.42 $29.42

$49.25 $49.25

-40.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.74 $14.74

$15.01 $15.01

-1.80%

Cinema Ticket

$13.70 $13.70

$17.27 $17.27

-20.67%

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

$1,081 $1,081

$1,367 $1,367

-20.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K $15.9K

$15.7K $15.7K

1.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.0 $62.0

$59.2 $59.2

4.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.04 $45.04

$45.46 $45.46

-0.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 $97.9

$111 $111

-11.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$138 $138

-18.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,853 $1,853

$1,932 $1,932

-4.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,746 $1,746

$1,679 $1,679

3.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,547 $2,547

$2,609 $2,609

-2.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,708 $1,708

$2,471 $2,471

-30.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,007 $4,007

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

6.18

0.49%

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

Last update for Tempe, AZ: August 31, 2026

Last update for Suwanee, GA: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,853 in Tempe, AZ and $1,932 in Suwanee, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $80.0 in Tempe, AZ vs $79.0 in Suwanee, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $436 vs $370 per month, with Suwanee, GA 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

Tempe, AZ vs Suwanee, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Suwanee, GA wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Tempe, AZ. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Suwanee, GA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,810 in Tempe, AZ and $4,658 in Suwanee, GA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,853 in Tempe, AZ versus $1,932 in Suwanee, GA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,081 in Tempe, AZ versus $1,367 in Suwanee, GA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Suwanee, GA – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $80.0 in Tempe, AZ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Suwanee, GA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Suwanee, GA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Tempe, AZ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.