Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Holland, MI: $2,441 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $16,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index
118

Cost of Living Index in Holland, MI
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Holland, MI Living Index

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Holland, MI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,441

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Holland, MI

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Holland, MI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,785 in Seattle, WA versus $2,441 in Holland, MI.

Seattle, WA $3,785
Holland, MI $2,441

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,688 in Seattle, WA versus $3,402 in Holland, MI.

Seattle, WA $5,688
Holland, MI $3,402

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,592 in Seattle, WA versus $4,362 in Holland, MI.

Seattle, WA $7,592
Holland, MI $4,362

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 55% more expensive than in Holland, MI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 178% above, Holland, MI 79% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.30 $25.30

$15.65 $15.65

61.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$59.1 $59.1

70.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.76 $14.76

$11.76 $11.76

25.51%

Cappuccino

$6.50 $6.50

$5.17 $5.17

25.73%

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

$3.21 $3.21

$2.05 $2.05

56.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.14 $2.14

46.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$5.97 $5.97

33.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$8.23 $8.23

-1.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.92 $0.92

27.17%

White Bread (500g)

$5.30 $5.30

$2.13 $2.13

148.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$1.95 $1.95

228.21%

Eggs

$5.06 $5.06

$3.13 $3.13

61.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.71 $18.71

$17.51 $17.51

6.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.72 $18.72

$6.42 $6.42

191.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.88 $22.88

$14.11 $14.11

62.15%

Apples (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$3.66 $3.66

65.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.08 $1.08

80.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$3.00 $3.00

83.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.43 $4.43

47.18%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.38 $2.38

46.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.83 $2.83

16.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.14 $2.14

30.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.06 $2.06

25.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.49 $12.49

$8.75 $8.75

42.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$14.83 $14.83

0.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.10 $2.10

99.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 $5.80

$1.30 $1.30

346.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.13 $1.13

169.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

$33.82 $33.82

213.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.05 $3.05

-15.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.53 $1.53

7.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.12 $30.12

$25.89 $25.89

16.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$0.86 $0.86

63.95%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$29.5K $29.5K

24.81%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$23.9K $23.9K

11.10%

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

$308 $308

$180 $180

70.63%

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

$69.2 $69.2

$37.74 $37.74

83.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.1 $86.1

$71.2 $71.2

20.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.5 $76.5

$30.27 $30.27

152.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.50 $35.50

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$10.55 $10.55

70.81%

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

$2,746 $2,746

$798 $798

244.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$20.2K $20.2K

51.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.2 $79.2

$46.72 $46.72

69.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.3 $54.3

$32.47 $32.47

67.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$74.6 $74.6

69.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$81.1 $81.1

95.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,508 $2,508

$1,320 $1,320

90.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,938 $1,938

$1,335 $1,335

45.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,117 $5,117

$2,072 $2,072

146.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,542 $3,542

$1,990 $1,990

77.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,374 $7,374

$2,419 $2,419

204.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,002 $5,002

$2,416 $2,416

107.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,470 $6,470

$3,837 $3,837

68.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.89

5.95

15.80%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Holland, MI: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2%

Holland, MI

$1.3K 54.7% 31.1% $604

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5%

Holland, MI

$326 13.3% 40.5% $221

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2%

Holland, MI

$289 11.9% 37.5% $174

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7%

Holland, MI

$286 11.7% 29.7% $121

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$189 5%

Holland, MI

$106 4.3% 44% $83

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4%

Holland, MI

$49 2% 62% $80

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$112 3%

Holland, MI

$51 2.1% 54.3% $61

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,508 in Seattle, WA and $1,320 in Holland, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 69% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $59 in Holland, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $326 per month, with Holland, MI cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 Holland, MI

🕒 Local time

07:16 7:16 AM

10:16 10:16 AM

3 h ahead of Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

34,378

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Seattle, WA Holland, MI 2,860 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Seattle, WA
Holland, MI

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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 Holland, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Holland, MI is about 35% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 69% 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: $2,508 in Seattle, WA versus $1,320 in Holland, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 68% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Holland, MI – a meal for two runs $59 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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.

Expats usually find Holland, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.