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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,539 in Seattle, WA versus $2,494 in Houghton, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,510 in Seattle, WA versus $3,605 in Houghton, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,481 in Seattle, WA versus $4,716 in Houghton, MI.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 42% more expensive than Houghton, MI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 163% above, Houghton, MI 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.25 $25.25

$12.77 $12.77

97.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$39.89 $39.89

200.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.79 $13.79

$10.17 $10.17

35.59%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.08 $4.08

37.50%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.73 $2.73

9.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.56 $1.56

60.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$5.96 $5.96

31.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$6.88 $6.88

15.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.09 $1.09

24.77%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.60 $3.60

35.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.48 $4.48

18.53%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$4.07 $4.07

62.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.48 $24.48

$12.41 $12.41

97.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.02 $16.02

$11.49 $11.49

39.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.57 $20.57

$15.28 $15.28

34.62%

Apples (1kg)

$6.10 $6.10

$5.04 $5.04

21.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.56 $1.56

84.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$4.36 $4.36

27.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.82 $4.82

39.83%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.76 $2.76

15.94%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.80 $2.80

35.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.03 $2.03

33.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.18 $2.18

20.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.71 $11.71

$9.32 $9.32

25.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 $15.81

$15.07 $15.07

4.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.78 $1.78

60.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.42 $3.42

28.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.96 $1.96

37.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.9 $98.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 $2.63

$3.49 $3.49

-24.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.59 $1.59

3.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.86 $29.86

$28.62 $28.62

4.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.84 $0.84

35.71%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$30.1K $30.1K

8.29%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.1K $26.1K

1.28%

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

$264 $264

$186 $186

42.11%

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

$60.6 $60.6

$53.5 $53.5

13.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$66.7 $66.7

14.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$42.63 $42.63

82.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.01 $40.01

Cinema Ticket

$16.19 $16.19

$13.27 $13.27

22.00%

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

$2,253 $2,253

$1,322 $1,322

70.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.2K $23.2K

28.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 $70.5

$51.8 $51.8

36.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 $51.8

$40.51 $40.51

27.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$87.0 $87.0

36.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$110 $110

29.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,381 $2,381

$1,612 $1,612

47.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,887 $1,887

$1,340 $1,340

40.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,752 $4,752

$2,600 $2,600

82.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,585 $3,585

$2,266 $2,266

58.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,850 $7,850

$1,552 $1,552

405.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,213 $5,213

$1,586 $1,586

228.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,446 $6,446

$2,606 $2,606

147.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 13, 2026

Last update for Houghton, MI: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,381 in Seattle, WA and $1,612 in Houghton, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 147% 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: $120 in Seattle, WA vs $40 in Houghton, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $392 per month, with Houghton, 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 Houghton, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Houghton, MI is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 147% 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: $2,381 in Seattle, WA versus $1,612 in Houghton, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,539 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,494 in Houghton, MI – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Houghton, MI is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Houghton, MI is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Houghton, 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 Houghton, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.