Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Ann Arbor, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Ann Arbor, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,597 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,934 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,271 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 39% more expensive than Ann Arbor, MI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Ann Arbor, MI 94% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$15.24 $15.24

62.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$74.2 $74.2

58.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$11.83 $11.83

16.40%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.63 $4.63

23.33%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.71 $2.71

12.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.10 $2.10

19.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.96 $5.96

31.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.16 $6.16

27.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.81 $0.81

66.67%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.69 $3.69

37.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.09 $6.09

-11.49%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$2.63 $2.63

160.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$17.82 $17.82

40.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$9.91 $9.91

59.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$14.24 $14.24

44.59%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.35 $5.35

14.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.62 $1.62

74.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.59 $4.59

20.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$5.02 $5.02

34.26%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.20 $2.20

43.18%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.71 $3.71

2.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.70 $1.70

58.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.43 $2.43

8.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$9.93 $9.93

17.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.18 $15.18

3.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.05 $2.05

42.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.48 $3.48

21.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.73 $1.73

63.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$44.16 $44.16

126.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.92 $2.92

-10.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.57 $1.57

9.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$26.29 $26.29

14.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.95 $0.95

25.26%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$26.4K $26.4K

23.98%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.5K $24.5K

6.40%

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

$263 $263

$156 $156

68.10%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$48.07 $48.07

26.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$67.9 $67.9

11.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$43.20 $43.20

84.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$17.33 $17.33

130.18%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$12.68 $12.68

28.31%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,966 $1,966

16.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$19.9K $19.9K

47.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$53.0 $53.0

29.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$37.49 $37.49

38.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$85.3 $85.3

35.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$100 $100

43.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,848 $1,848

26.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,376 $1,376

35.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$3,902 $3,902

18.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,600 $2,600

33.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$5,473 $5,473

41.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,615 $2,615

100.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$5,083 $5,083

30.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.62

-3.02%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ann Arbor, MI: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,848 in Ann Arbor, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 30% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $74.0 in Ann Arbor, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $403 per month, with Ann Arbor, 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

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

Seattle, WA and Ann Arbor, MI differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($3,598 vs $2,597 including rent). Ann Arbor, MI is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 30% more on average, 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,848 in Ann Arbor, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Ann Arbor, MI – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,597 in Ann Arbor, MI – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Ann Arbor, 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.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Ann Arbor, MI are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ann Arbor, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.