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: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,717 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $4,233 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $5,749 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 41% more expensive than in Ann Arbor, MI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Ann Arbor, MI 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$18.56 $18.56

32.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$60.3 $60.3

64.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$12.11 $12.11

24.61%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$5.07 $5.07

30.57%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.91 $2.91

7.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.11 $2.11

41.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$6.40 $6.40

26.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$8.03 $8.03

-2.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.94 $0.94

24.47%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.83 $3.83

35.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.96 $4.96

29.03%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$3.75 $3.75

30.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$19.19 $19.19

11.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$13.47 $13.47

37.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$14.93 $14.93

54.39%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$6.91 $6.91

-16.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.96 $1.96

-4.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.77 $3.77

42.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$4.41 $4.41

42.86%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.36 $2.36

61.02%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.89 $2.89

12.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.43 $2.43

18.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.97 $1.97

37.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$10.01 $10.01

41.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$14.84 $14.84

1.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.07 $2.07

110.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.75 $3.75

53.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.77 $1.77

72.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

$45.52 $45.52

141.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.04 $3.04

-15.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.57 $1.57

5.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$26.71 $26.71

11.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.02 $1.02

35.29%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.9K $35.9K

1.62%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.3K $25.3K

-0.63%

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

$296 $296

$196 $196

50.74%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$57.5 $57.5

23.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$73.2 $73.2

20.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$64.3 $64.3

26.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

$19.60 $19.60

82.14%

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$12.95 $12.95

41.54%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$2,025 $2,025

51.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$20.1K $20.1K

52.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$55.1 $55.1

39.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$42.91 $42.91

25.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$114 $114

12.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$106 $106

55.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$2,070 $2,070

16.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,414 $1,414

36.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$3,881 $3,881

22.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$2,661 $2,661

34.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$5,420 $5,420

36.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$2,518 $2,518

100.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$4,815 $4,815

31.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.08

5.59%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ann Arbor, MI: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $2,070 in Ann Arbor, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 31% 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: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $60.0 in Ann Arbor, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $430 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 41% in total monthly costs ($3,836 vs $2,717 including rent). Ann Arbor, MI is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 31% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $2,070 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 $60.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,717 in Ann Arbor, MI – a 41% 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 41% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.