Question 1

Is Detroit or Seattle cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Detroit, MI is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $713/month less than in Seattle, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,411/mo in Detroit versus $2,501/mo in Seattle.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Detroit vs Seattle?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $78,500/year before tax in Detroit, MI and $86,000/year in Seattle, WA — a difference of about $7,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Detroit or Seattle cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Detroit, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $9,052/month in Detroit and $12,749/month in Seattle, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Detroit or Seattle?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Detroit costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Detroit58	Seattle59
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,078	$4,791
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$9,052	$12,749
Salary for comfort	$78,500/yr	$86,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,411	$2,501
Median home value	$76,800	$912,100
Median household income	$39,575	$121,984
Unemployment	10.7%	4.7%
Housing score	61	34
Jobs score	36	35
Safety score	18	40
Climate score	79	92
Amenities score	82	90
Population	636.6K	741.4K
Summer high / winter low	83° / 20°	76° / 37°

Detroit, MI vs Seattle, WA