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

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 35.7% more expensive than Detroit, MI without rent, and 47% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 38.9% more expensive than Detroit, MI without rent, and 57.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Detroit, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$17.26 $17.26
45.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$66.9 $66.9
77.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$10.07 $10.07
37.44%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$4.82 $4.82
20.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.47 $2.47
19.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.89 $1.89
32.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$6.07 $6.07
28.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$6.87 $6.87
14.12%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Detroit, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$0.85 $0.85
57.65%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$3.15 $3.15
58.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$5.85 $5.85
-8.55%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$3.41 $3.41
102.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$12.32 $12.32
101.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$12.08 $12.08
30.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$20.73 $20.73
0.53%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$4.54 $4.54
33.26%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.22 $1.22
125.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$5.82 $5.82
-6.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$6.19 $6.19
4.20%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.01 $2.01
54.73%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.5 $2.5
47.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.64 $2.64
5.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.06 $2.06
22.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$10.19 $10.19
14.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$14.75 $14.75
16.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.01 $2.01
46.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$2.58 $2.58
62.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Detroit, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.06 $2.06
35.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$65.3 $65.3
54.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.48 $2.48
8.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.38 $1.38
19.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$47.26 $47.26
-36.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$0.9 $0.9
28.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$35.5K $35.5K
-6.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$24.7K $24.7K
6.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Detroit, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$250 $250
8.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$54.8 $54.8
12.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$53.9 $53.9
39.53%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Detroit, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$42.81 $42.81
83.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
$24.87 $24.87
65.02%
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$10.9 $10.9
45.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Detroit, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$1,281 $1,281
75.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$17.1K $17.1K
69.97%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Detroit, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$55.3 $55.3
25.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$30.95 $30.95
69.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$98.3 $98.3
21.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$107 $107
32.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Detroit, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$1,441 $1,441
64.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$1,139 $1,139
60.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$2,561 $2,561
83.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$1,964 $1,964
76.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$1,371 $1,371
405.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$1,257 $1,257
315.48%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Detroit, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$3,172 $3,172
104.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.42
-

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Detroit, MI: October 29, 2025

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