Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Alpena, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Alpena, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,562 in Alpena, MI, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,544 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,660 in Alpena, MI, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,427 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,757 in Alpena, MI, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 43% more than Alpena, MI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Alpena, MI sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 173%, Alpena, MI by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$18.71 $18.71

35.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$75.9 $75.9

59.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$11.09 $11.09

27.23%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$4.56 $4.56

27.63%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.02 $2.02

47.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.05 $2.05

17.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$6.17 $6.17

25.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$5.45 $5.45

44.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.00 $1.00

34.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.53 $3.53

39.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.33 $4.33

18.71%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$4.08 $4.08

61.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$10.91 $10.91

125.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$9.38 $9.38

69.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$10.17 $10.17

98.03%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$4.77 $4.77

31.45%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.57 $1.57

82.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.33 $4.33

22.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.79 $4.79

33.40%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.82 $2.82

13.83%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.77 $2.77

38.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.01 $2.01

36.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.13 $2.13

21.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$9.60 $9.60

21.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$13.79 $13.79

14.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.77 $1.77

62.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.47 $3.47

26.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.05 $2.05

34.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.46 $3.46

-22.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.65 $1.65

3.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$28.63 $28.63

3.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.85 $0.85

34.12%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$29.4K $29.4K

11.99%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.38%

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

$268 $268

$189 $189

42.05%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$52.0 $52.0

17.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$68.3 $68.3

11.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$43.60 $43.60

79.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$13.32 $13.32

18.77%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,309 $1,309

72.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.4K $23.4K

27.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$50.9 $50.9

39.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$40.56 $40.56

31.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$85.9 $85.9

36.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$113 $113

22.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,047 $1,047

120.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,379 $1,379

34.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$1,971 $1,971

140.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,186 $2,186

62.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,890 $2,890

169.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,446 $2,446

118.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Alpena, MI: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,047 in Alpena, MI. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Seattle, WA versus $76 in Alpena, MI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $539 vs $355 – making Alpena, MI 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

Seattle, WA vs Alpena, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA, $2,562 in Alpena, MI – roughly 43% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,491 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,843 in Alpena, MI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Seattle, WA and $76.0 in Alpena, MI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 52% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Alpena, MI, where all-in costs run around $2,562, than in Seattle, WA at $3,661. In Alpena, MI it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,562 in Alpena, MI to $3,661 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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