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

🙂 Solo nomad: Traverse City, MI is 24.4% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 28.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Traverse City, MI is 18.1% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 33.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Traverse City, MI
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.28 $18.28
$25.11 $25.11
-27.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1 $70.1
$118 $118
-40.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.56 $9.56
$13.84 $13.84
-30.92%
Cappuccino
$4.46 $4.46
$5.8 $5.8
-23.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.95 $2.95
-13.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 $1.57
$2.51 $2.51
-37.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.53 $5.53
$7.81 $7.81
-29.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.05 $6.05
$7.84 $7.84
-22.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Traverse City, MI
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.34 $1.34
-38.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.48 $3.48
$4.98 $4.98
-30.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$5.35 $5.35
-19.81%
Eggs
$3.3 $3.3
$6.91 $6.91
-52.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.21 $15.21
$24.8 $24.8
-38.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.18 $12.18
$15.74 $15.74
-22.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.27 $15.27
$20.84 $20.84
-26.73%
Apples (1kg)
$6.69 $6.69
$6.05 $6.05
10.58%
Banana (1kg)
$0.9 $0.9
$2.75 $2.75
-67.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.3 $3.3
$5.47 $5.47
-39.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.67 $5.67
$6.45 $6.45
-12.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.18 $2.18
$3.11 $3.11
-29.90%
Onion (1kg)
$3.37 $3.37
$3.69 $3.69
-8.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.78 $2.78
-12.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.52 $2.52
-3.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.83 $8.83
$11.64 $11.64
-24.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.9 $14.9
$17.15 $17.15
-13.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.94 $2.94
-37.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64 $3.64
$4.19 $4.19
-13.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Traverse City, MI
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$6.15 $6.15
$2.8 $2.8
119.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.89 $29.89
$101 $101
-70.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.77 $4.77
$2.68 $2.68
77.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.65 $1.65
-4.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.7 $27.7
$30.13 $30.13
-8.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.16 $1.16
-23.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K $24.5K
$33.3K $33.3K
-26.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K $24.5K
$26.3K $26.3K
-6.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Traverse City, MI
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$118 $118
$271 $271
-56.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.15 $46.15
$61.8 $61.8
-25.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.2 $62.2
$75.2 $75.2
-17.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Traverse City, MI
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.9 $70.9
$78.4 $78.4
-9.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$41.04 $41.04
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.19 $11.19
$15.89 $15.89
-29.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Traverse City, MI
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$963 $963
$2,248 $2,248
-57.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.9K $20.9K
$29K $29K
-27.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Traverse City, MI
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63 $63
$69.5 $69.5
-9.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.6 $55.6
$52.5 $52.5
5.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.1 $99.1
$120 $120
-17.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.7 $95.7
$142 $142
-32.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Traverse City, MI
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,826 $1,826
$2,376 $2,376
-23.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,445 $1,445
$1,829 $1,829
-20.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,742 $3,742
$4,702 $4,702
-20.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,276 $2,276
$3,474 $3,474
-34.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,087 $5,087
$6,928 $6,928
-26.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,563 $3,563
$5,224 $5,224
-31.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Traverse City, MI
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,740 $2,740
$6,473 $6,473
-57.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.35
6.42
-1.09%

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

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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