Cost of Living Comparison Between Yakima, WA and Rochester, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Yakima, WA and Rochester, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,234 per month in Yakima, WA vs $2,259 in Rochester, MI, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,222 per month in Yakima, WA vs $3,203 in Rochester, MI, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,211 per month in Yakima, WA vs $4,146 in Rochester, MI, rent included.

Yakima, WA is about 1% cheaper than Rochester, MI, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Yakima, WA and Rochester, MI sit above the global median – Yakima, WA by 67%, Rochester, MI by 69%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.43 $15.43

$18.02 $18.02

-14.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.3 $66.3

$59.0 $59.0

12.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.29 $10.29

$10.93 $10.93

-5.86%

Cappuccino

$4.58 $4.58

$4.71 $4.71

-2.76%

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

$1.99 $1.99

$2.52 $2.52

-21.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.56 $1.56

55.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.45 $4.45

$5.83 $5.83

-23.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.87 $4.87

$6.96 $6.96

-30.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.87 $0.87

5.75%

White Bread (500g)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.29 $3.29

13.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.38 $3.38

2.37%

Eggs

$3.00 $3.00

$3.20 $3.20

-6.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.21 $10.21

$12.23 $12.23

-16.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.64 $10.64

$11.90 $11.90

-10.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.31 $14.31

$11.11 $11.11

28.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$4.36 $4.36

-22.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.36 $1.36

9.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.21 $4.21

$4.52 $4.52

-6.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$5.65 $5.65

-41.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.09 $2.09

-4.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.18 $2.18

-5.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.02 $1.02

110.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.72 $2.72

-44.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.13 $9.13

$8.85 $8.85

3.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.95 $13.95

$14.71 $14.71

-5.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.85 $1.85

3.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.70 $4.70

$3.63 $3.63

29.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.86 $4.86

$1.97 $1.97

146.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 $2.95

$4.72 $4.72

-37.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.39 $1.39

-34.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$51.9 $51.9

$27.85 $27.85

86.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.83 $0.83

38.55%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$24.4K $24.4K

45.43%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.3K $24.3K

7.84%

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

$124 $124

$120 $120

2.76%

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

$50.6 $50.6

$45.41 $45.41

11.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.8 $68.8

$60.9 $60.9

12.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.8 $72.8

$22.64 $22.64

221.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.52 $34.52

Cinema Ticket

$13.41 $13.41

$9.96 $9.96

34.64%

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

$1,725 $1,725

$953 $953

81.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,276 $7,276

$20.2K $20.2K

-64.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 $51.6

$65.3 $65.3

-20.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.9 $57.9

$39.87 $39.87

45.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.2 $81.2

$99.6 $99.6

-18.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$138 $138

-20.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$982 $982

$1,178 $1,178

-16.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,073 $1,073

$1,196 $1,196

-10.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,649 $1,649

$2,237 $2,237

-26.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,805 $1,805

$1,722 $1,722

4.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,553 $2,553

$4,262 $4,262

-40.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,504 $2,504

$2,236 $2,236

12.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,540 $3,540

$5,572 $5,572

-36.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.45

1.71%

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

Last update for Yakima, WA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Rochester, MI: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $982 in Yakima, WA versus $1,178 in Rochester, MI. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 57% higher in Rochester, MI, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Yakima, WA versus $59.0 in Rochester, MI. Groceries tell a different story – $342 in Yakima, WA vs $367 in Rochester, MI – so Yakima, WA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Yakima, WA vs Rochester, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Rochester, MI is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,350 per month in Yakima, WA and $3,389 in Rochester, MI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Yakima, WA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,234 in Yakima, WA and $2,259 in Rochester, MI. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,725 per month in Yakima, WA and $953 in Rochester, MI. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Yakima, WA, where all-in costs run around $2,234, than in Rochester, MI at $2,259. In Yakima, WA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rochester, MI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Yakima, WA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Yakima, WA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rochester, MI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.