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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,320 in Dearborn, MI, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,544 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,438 in Dearborn, MI, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,427 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,557 in Dearborn, MI, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 58% more than Dearborn, MI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Dearborn, MI sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 173%, Dearborn, MI by 73%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$17.45 $17.45

45.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$54.0 $54.0

124.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$8.97 $8.97

57.30%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$4.78 $4.78

21.76%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.29 $2.29

30.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.87 $1.87

28.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$4.11 $4.11

88.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.39 $6.39

23.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.81 $0.81

65.43%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.08 $3.08

59.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.24 $4.24

21.23%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$3.27 $3.27

100.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$12.20 $12.20

101.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$12.17 $12.17

30.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$20.10 $20.10

0.20%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$4.48 $4.48

39.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.32 $1.32

116.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$3.68 $3.68

43.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.03 $4.03

58.56%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.12 $2.12

51.42%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.51 $2.51

52.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.63 $2.63

4.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.09 $2.09

23.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$9.91 $9.91

17.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$14.90 $14.90

5.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.01 $2.01

43.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.51 $2.51

74.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.04 $2.04

35.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$64.1 $64.1

54.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.43 $2.43

9.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.37 $1.37

24.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$25.83 $25.83

15.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.82 $0.82

39.02%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$34.1K $34.1K

-3.47%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.3K $24.3K

6.73%

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

$268 $268

$255 $255

5.12%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$48.10 $48.10

26.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$53.4 $53.4

42.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$24.61 $24.61

217.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$13.74 $13.74

15.14%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,240 $1,240

81.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$18.4K $18.4K

60.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$56.0 $56.0

26.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$46.00 $46.00

15.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$97.6 $97.6

20.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$110 $110

26.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$915 $915

152.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,004 $1,004

84.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$1,493 $1,493

217.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$1,807 $1,807

96.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$1,933 $1,933

302.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$1,912 $1,912

179.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$3,629 $3,629

81.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Dearborn, MI: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $915 in Dearborn, MI. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 81% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Seattle, WA versus $54 in Dearborn, MI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $539 vs $384 – making Dearborn, 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 Dearborn, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 58%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,491 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,480 in Dearborn, MI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $2,252 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,240 in Dearborn, MI. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% 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 $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Dearborn, MI, where all-in costs run around $2,320, than in Seattle, WA at $3,661. In Dearborn, MI it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dearborn, MI – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Dearborn, 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.