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Atlanta vs Seattle

Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.

$/ year

To keep the same standard of living in Seattle, WA, you'd need

$89,907 / year

Seattle, WA is 20% more expensive overall

Category breakdown (Seattle, WA vs Atlanta, GA)

  • Housing+40%
  • Food & groceries+12%
  • Transport+12%
  • Utilities-2%
  • Healthcare+14%
  • Goods & services+11%

Full comparison

Atlanta, GASeattle, WA
Cost of living
Overall cost index107128
Housing118165
Food100112
Transport104116
Utilities9896
Healthcare102116
Goods & services103114
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$1,650/mo$2,100/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$1,300/mo$1,650/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$3,000/mo$4,200/mo
Buy price / m² centre$4,200$9,500
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$937$781
Inexpensive meal$17$20
Monthly transit pass$95$99
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)37%37%
VAT / sales tax0%0%
Social security (employee)7.7%7.7%
Corporate tax21%21%
Capital gains20%20%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$4,300/mo$4,300/mo
Minimum wage$1,257/mo$1,257/mo
GDP per capita$82,000$82,000
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaNoNo
English proficiencyNativeNative
Coworking spaces5570
Time zoneUTC-5UTC-8
Quality of life
Safety index4852
Healthcare index7880
Pollution index4530
Internet speed200 Mbps200 Mbps
Walkability4874
Public transport4870
Family-friendly6262
Tap waterSafe to drinkSafe to drink
Health insurance$450/mo$450/mo
Life expectancy79 yr79 yr
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighHigh
Climate
January avg+7 °C+5 °C
July avg+27 °C+19 °C
Sunny days / year217152
Rainfall / year1,270 mm950 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1 h1.5 h

Taxes & Economy & salaries: United States vs United States. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.

? Frequently asked questions

Is Atlanta cheaper than Seattle?

Seattle is about 20% more expensive than Atlanta overall — its cost-of-living index is 128 versus 107 for Atlanta.

How much do you need to earn in Seattle to live like in Atlanta?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Atlanta is worth about $89,907 in Seattle. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Seattle?

Both cities are in the same country, so national income tax (37%) and VAT are identical; only local cost of living differs.

More comparisons from Atlanta

Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.