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: $3,886 in Seattle, WA versus $2,504 in Merrillville, IN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,699 in Seattle, WA versus $3,575 in Merrillville, IN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Seattle, WA versus $4,647 in Merrillville, IN.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 55% more expensive than in Merrillville, IN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, Merrillville, IN 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$15.15 $15.15

67.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$55.1 $55.1

83.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$10.05 $10.05

47.26%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$4.61 $4.61

43.82%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.33 $2.33

32.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.27 $2.27

30.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$3.89 $3.89

104.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$5.37 $5.37

46.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.78 $0.78

56.41%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.84 $2.84

80.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$4.56 $4.56

35.09%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$4.76 $4.76

6.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$11.49 $11.49

85.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$9.86 $9.86

86.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$20.52 $20.52

12.28%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$6.01 $6.01

0.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.21 $1.21

55.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.50 $4.50

15.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$5.59 $5.59

13.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.69 $3.69

2.44%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$4.40 $4.40

-25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.46 $2.46

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.27 $1.27

109.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$8.61 $8.61

61.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$11.84 $11.84

27.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.98 $1.98

110.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.48 $3.48

62.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.07 $2.07

43.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.87 $4.87

-47.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.89 $1.89

-12.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$50.5 $50.5

-41.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.90 $0.90

62.22%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$37.2K $37.2K

-3.09%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$28.6K $28.6K

-11.02%

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

$306 $306

$233 $233

31.12%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$62.4 $62.4

12.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$66.5 $66.5

31.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$36.07 $36.07

121.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$14.94 $14.94

19.48%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,357 $1,357

122.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$26.6K $26.6K

17.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$51.8 $51.8

47.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$39.45 $39.45

36.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$102 $102

22.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$95.3 $95.3

70.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,778 $1,778

38.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,152 $1,152

71.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,760 $2,760

76.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$2,368 $2,368

53.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$3,128 $3,128

135.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$2,580 $2,580

94.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.34

1.74%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Merrillville, IN: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,456 in Seattle, WA and $1,778 in Merrillville, IN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $55.0 in Merrillville, IN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $551 vs $388 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 55% in total monthly costs ($3,886 vs $2,504 including rent). Merrillville, IN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,829 in Seattle, WA and $3,756 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: $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $1,778 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 $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,504 in Merrillville, IN – a 55% 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 55% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.