Cost of Living Comparison Between Boca Raton, FL and Traverse City, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Boca Raton, FL and Traverse City, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,228 in Boca Raton, FL versus $2,651 in Traverse City, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,885 in Boca Raton, FL versus $3,866 in Traverse City, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,543 in Boca Raton, FL versus $5,082 in Traverse City, MI.

Living in Boca Raton, FL is roughly 22% more expensive than in Traverse City, MI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Boca Raton, FL 142% above, Traverse City, MI 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.24 $22.24

$17.70 $17.70

25.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.0 $86.0

$71.2 $71.2

20.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.09 $12.09

$9.91 $9.91

22.00%

Cappuccino

$4.59 $4.59

$4.41 $4.41

4.08%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$2.44 $2.44

6.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.63 $1.63

25.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.16 $6.16

$5.47 $5.47

12.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$6.16 $6.16

13.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.87 $0.87

22.99%

White Bread (500g)

$4.21 $4.21

$3.36 $3.36

25.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$4.38 $4.38

-9.82%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$3.16 $3.16

35.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.44 $11.44

$15.23 $15.23

-24.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.16 $11.16

$12.19 $12.19

-8.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.51 $15.51

$15.01 $15.01

3.33%

Apples (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$6.58 $6.58

-25.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.84 $0.84

83.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$3.34 $3.34

30.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$5.75 $5.75

-4.35%

Potato (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.21 $2.21

95.48%

Onion (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$3.35 $3.35

19.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.44 $2.44

-1.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.48 $2.48

4.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.64 $5.64

$8.84 $8.84

-36.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.07 $14.07

$15.27 $15.27

-7.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.84 $1.84

8.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$3.49 $3.49

-38.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$5.94 $5.94

-66.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.7 $68.7

$29.66 $29.66

131.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.76 $4.76

-16.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.57 $1.57

-53.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.32 $30.32

$27.69 $27.69

9.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$0.87 $0.87

2.30%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$25.2K $25.2K

-2.16%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$24.0K $24.0K

0.48%

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

$243 $243

$119 $119

104.51%

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

$48.56 $48.56

$44.47 $44.47

9.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.3 $67.3

$61.9 $61.9

8.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.84 $35.84

$70.5 $70.5

-49.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.94 $44.94

Cinema Ticket

$14.36 $14.36

$10.85 $10.85

32.35%

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

$1,261 $1,261

$941 $941

33.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.3K $40.3K

$21.0K $21.0K

92.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.49 $31.49

$63.6 $63.6

-50.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.23 $41.23

$54.8 $54.8

-24.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.1 $65.1

$96.9 $96.9

-32.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.5 $61.5

$96.7 $96.7

-36.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,738 $2,738

$1,800 $1,800

52.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,902 $1,902

$1,409 $1,409

34.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,112 $5,112

$3,738 $3,738

36.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,512 $3,512

$2,349 $2,349

49.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,624 $8,624

$5,023 $5,023

71.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,366 $6,366

$3,579 $3,579

77.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,896 $5,896

$2,806 $2,806

110.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.35

0.63%

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

Last update for Boca Raton, FL: July 13, 2026

Last update for Traverse City, MI: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,738 in Boca Raton, FL and $1,800 in Traverse City, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boca Raton, FL pays 110% 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: $86.0 in Boca Raton, FL vs $71.0 in Traverse City, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $404 per month, with Traverse City, MI 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

Boca Raton, FL vs Traverse City, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Traverse City, MI is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 110% higher in Boca Raton, FL, 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: $2,738 in Boca Raton, FL versus $1,800 in Traverse City, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Traverse City, MI – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $86.0 in Boca Raton, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,228 per month in Boca Raton, FL versus $2,651 in Traverse City, MI – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Traverse City, MI 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 Traverse City, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Boca Raton, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.