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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,724 in Traverse City, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $4,035 in Traverse City, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $5,346 in Traverse City, MI.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 41% more expensive than in Traverse City, MI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Traverse City, MI 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$21.76 $21.76

13.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$78.0 $78.0

26.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$11.26 $11.26

34.01%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$4.73 $4.73

39.96%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.49 $2.49

25.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.16 $2.16

37.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$4.93 $4.93

64.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.17 $6.17

27.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.77 $0.77

51.95%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$2.86 $2.86

81.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.79 $4.79

33.61%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$2.77 $2.77

77.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$19.12 $19.12

12.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$16.71 $16.71

11.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$22.01 $22.01

4.73%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$6.78 $6.78

-14.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.29 $1.29

45.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.90 $3.90

37.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$6.97 $6.97

-9.61%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.72 $2.72

39.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.25 $3.25

0.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.40 $2.40

19.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.64 $2.64

2.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$5.92 $5.92

139.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$15.08 $15.08

-0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.01 $2.01

116.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$7.19 $7.19

-20.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$5.98 $5.98

-48.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

$29.80 $29.80

269.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.01 $1.01

36.63%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$36.2K $36.2K

0.74%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.4K $25.4K

-1.12%

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

$296 $296

$119 $119

148.63%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$36.89 $36.89

93.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$67.4 $67.4

30.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$64.4 $64.4

26.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$9.41 $9.41

94.79%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,027 $1,027

198.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$11.1K $11.1K

174.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$58.6 $58.6

31.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$42.41 $42.41

27.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$102 $102

24.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$85.5 $85.5

92.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$2,012 $2,012

20.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,415 $1,415

36.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$3,832 $3,832

24.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$2,322 $2,322

54.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$5,036 $5,036

47.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$3,619 $3,619

39.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$2,749 $2,749

129.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.04

6.29%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Traverse City, MI: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $2,012 in Traverse City, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 130% 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: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $78.0 in Traverse City, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $476 per month, with Traverse City, 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 Traverse City, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Traverse City, MI is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 130% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $2,012 in Traverse City, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Traverse City, MI – a meal for two runs $78.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,724 in Traverse City, MI – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Traverse City, MI is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Traverse City, 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.

Expats usually find Traverse City, MI 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.