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: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,545 in Merrillville, IN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,726 in Merrillville, IN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $4,907 in Merrillville, IN.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 41% more expensive than Merrillville, IN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Merrillville, IN 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$18.51 $18.51

33.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$64.5 $64.5

82.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$9.84 $9.84

39.94%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.28 $5.28

8.14%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$3.19 $3.19

-4.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.20 $2.20

13.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$4.99 $4.99

56.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.15 $7.15

10.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.85 $0.85

58.82%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.48 $3.48

45.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.36 $4.36

23.62%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.23 $4.23

61.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$9.68 $9.68

158.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$12.38 $12.38

28.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$15.31 $15.31

34.49%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.72 $5.72

7.34%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.13 $1.13

149.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.47 $4.47

23.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.72 $4.72

42.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.19 $2.19

43.84%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.14 $2.14

78.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.90 $1.90

41.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$10.45 $10.45

11.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$12.06 $12.06

30.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.83 $1.83

60.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.59 $3.59

18.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.97 $1.97

43.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.78 $2.78

-6.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.21 $2.21

-22.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$20.77 $20.77

45.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.86 $0.86

38.37%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.7K $29.7K

10.18%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.13%

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

$263 $263

$180 $180

45.56%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$48.69 $48.69

25.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$64.7 $64.7

17.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$43.29 $43.29

83.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$14.89 $14.89

9.27%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,798 $1,798

26.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$23.9K $23.9K

22.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$43.43 $43.43

57.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$45.26 $45.26

14.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$79.8 $79.8

45.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$104 $104

37.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,587 $1,587

47.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,365 $1,365

36.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,660 $2,660

74.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,201 $2,201

57.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,611 $2,611

197.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,236 $2,236

134.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Merrillville, IN: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,587 in Merrillville, IN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $64.0 in Merrillville, IN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $382 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 41% in total monthly costs ($3,598 vs $2,545 including rent). Merrillville, IN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,397 in Seattle, WA and $3,818 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,587 in Merrillville, IN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,545 in Merrillville, IN – a 41% 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 41% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.