Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Traverse City, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Traverse City, MI

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 32.3% more expensive than Traverse City, MI without rent, and 40.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 22.1% more expensive than Traverse City, MI without rent, and 50.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Traverse City, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$18.28 $18.28
37.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$70.1 $70.1
68.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$9.56 $9.56
44.77%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$4.46 $4.46
30.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.55 $2.55
15.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.57 $1.57
59.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$5.53 $5.53
41.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$6.05 $6.05
29.59%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Traverse City, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$0.82 $0.82
63.41%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$3.48 $3.48
43.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$4.29 $4.29
24.71%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$3.3 $3.3
109.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$15.21 $15.21
63.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$12.18 $12.18
29.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$15.27 $15.27
36.48%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$6.69 $6.69
-9.57%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$0.9 $0.9
205.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$3.3 $3.3
65.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$5.67 $5.67
13.76%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.18 $2.18
42.66%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$3.37 $3.37
9.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.44 $2.44
13.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.44 $2.44
3.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$8.83 $8.83
31.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$14.9 $14.9
15.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.84 $1.84
59.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.64 $3.64
15.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Traverse City, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$6.15 $6.15
-54.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$29.89 $29.89
237.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$4.77 $4.77
-43.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.58 $1.58
4.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$27.7 $27.7
8.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$0.89 $0.89
30.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$24.5K $24.5K
36.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$24.5K $24.5K
7.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Traverse City, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$118 $118
129.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$46.15 $46.15
33.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$62.2 $62.2
20.81%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Traverse City, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$70.9 $70.9
10.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$11.19 $11.19
42.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Traverse City, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$963 $963
133.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$20.9K $20.9K
38.76%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Traverse City, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$63 $63
10.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$55.6 $55.6
-5.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$99.1 $99.1
20.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$95.7 $95.7
48.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Traverse City, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$1,826 $1,826
30.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$1,445 $1,445
26.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$3,742 $3,742
25.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$2,276 $2,276
52.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$5,087 $5,087
36.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$3,563 $3,563
46.63%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Traverse City, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$2,740 $2,740
136.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.35
1.10%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Traverse City, MI: October 29, 2025

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