Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Merrillville, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Merrillville, IN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,604 in Seattle, WA versus $2,540 in Merrillville, IN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $3,686 in Merrillville, IN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,494 in Seattle, WA versus $4,832 in Merrillville, IN.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Merrillville, IN 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$18.67 $18.67

32.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$65.7 $65.7

85.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$10.06 $10.06

39.36%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.02 $5.02

10.76%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$3.08 $3.08

-0.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.21 $2.21

8.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$4.95 $4.95

60.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$7.08 $7.08

14.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.81 $0.81

70.37%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$3.38 $3.38

46.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$4.51 $4.51

18.63%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$4.16 $4.16

58.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$10.14 $10.14

145.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$12.37 $12.37

28.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$15.02 $15.02

34.55%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$5.55 $5.55

11.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.17 $1.17

135.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.67 $4.67

15.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.77 $4.77

36.69%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.09 $2.09

53.59%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.12 $2.12

76.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.91 $1.91

48.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.59 $2.59

1.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$10.47 $10.47

11.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$11.76 $11.76

31.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.88 $1.88

50.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$3.47 $3.47

22.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.05 $2.05

34.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.78 $2.78

-6.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.20 $2.20

-25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$20.67 $20.67

44.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.81 $0.81

40.74%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$30.3K $30.3K

9.40%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

0.06%

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

$270 $270

$184 $184

46.85%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$47.56 $47.56

25.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$62.7 $62.7

18.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$42.18 $42.18

84.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$14.79 $14.79

6.69%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$1,787 $1,787

27.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$24.2K $24.2K

23.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$43.75 $43.75

59.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$45.01 $45.01

16.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$79.6 $79.6

47.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$104 $104

38.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,613 $1,613

44.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$1,334 $1,334

42.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,635 $2,635

80.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$2,210 $2,210

57.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$2,884 $2,884

167.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$2,416 $2,416

106.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.55

-1.98%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 19, 2026

Last update for Merrillville, IN: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Seattle, WA and $1,613 in Merrillville, IN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $122 in Seattle, WA vs $66.0 in Merrillville, IN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $541 vs $380 per month, with Merrillville, IN 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 Merrillville, IN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Merrillville, IN differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($3,604 vs $2,540 including rent). Merrillville, IN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,407 in Seattle, WA and $3,810 in Merrillville, IN to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $1,613 in Merrillville, IN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,604 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,540 in Merrillville, IN – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Merrillville, IN 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.

Expats usually find Merrillville, IN 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.