Seattle, WA vs Detroit, MI: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Detroit, MI is 9.7% less expensive than Seattle, WA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Seattle works out to about $67,700 in Detroit, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 37.4% less in Detroit. Goods are 5.0% lower and other services 4.0% lower.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 15.3% higher in Detroit.
- Typical asking rent is $1,514 a month in Detroit and $2,250 in Seattle, $8,832 a year less in Detroit (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $264,000 in Detroit and $720,000 in Seattle.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Detroit was 12.5% less expensive than Seattle.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 37.4% lower in Detroit than in Seattle
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Seattle, WA
- Detroit, MI
All items Seattle, WA: 111.1 Detroit, MI: 100.3
Goods Seattle, WA: 104.0 Detroit, MI: 98.8
Housing (rents) Seattle, WA: 151.3 Detroit, MI: 94.7
Utilities Seattle, WA: 92.8 Detroit, MI: 107.0
Other services Seattle, WA: 106.8 Detroit, MI: 102.6
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Detroit, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 111.1 | 100.3 |
| Goods | 104.0 | 98.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 151.3 | 94.7 |
| Utilities | 92.8 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 106.8 | 102.6 |
| Category | Seattle | Detroit | Detroit vs Seattle |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 111.1 | 100.3 | −9.7% |
| Goods | 104.0 | 98.8 | −5.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 151.3 | 94.7 | −37.4% |
| Utilities | 92.8 | 107.0 | +15.3% |
| Other services | 106.8 | 102.6 | −4.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,250 | $1,514 | −32.7% |
| Typical home value | $720,000 | $264,000 | −63.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Seattle | $75,000 | $67,700 | −9.7% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Seattle and Detroit has widened since 2008: 8.5 points then, 10.8 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Seattle, WA
- Detroit, MI
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Detroit, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 109.1 | 100.6 |
| 2009 | 108.5 | 100.2 |
| 2010 | 106.4 | 99.4 |
| 2011 | 106.1 | 98.5 |
| 2012 | 105.3 | 97.9 |
| 2013 | 105.2 | 98.4 |
| 2014 | 107.5 | 98.7 |
| 2015 | 107.9 | 96.9 |
| 2016 | 110.2 | 96.3 |
| 2017 | 112.1 | 95.8 |
| 2018 | 110.5 | 97.3 |
| 2019 | 112.5 | 98.4 |
| 2020 | 113.0 | 98.3 |
| 2021 | 114.5 | 96.4 |
| 2022 | 114.0 | 96.3 |
| 2023 | 112.7 | 98.2 |
| 2024 | 111.1 | 100.3 |
Goods
- Seattle, WA
- Detroit, MI
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Detroit, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 108.3 | 99.9 |
| 2009 | 106.6 | 102.1 |
| 2010 | 105.3 | 100.4 |
| 2011 | 106.1 | 101.0 |
| 2012 | 101.1 | 99.5 |
| 2013 | 102.8 | 100.0 |
| 2014 | 104.6 | 99.5 |
| 2015 | 105.8 | 98.2 |
| 2016 | 104.4 | 99.1 |
| 2017 | 108.4 | 99.5 |
| 2018 | 105.2 | 100.1 |
| 2019 | 107.5 | 96.5 |
| 2020 | 111.9 | 98.7 |
| 2021 | 115.5 | 95.1 |
| 2022 | 116.4 | 94.7 |
| 2023 | 108.1 | 97.9 |
| 2024 | 104.0 | 98.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Seattle, WA
- Detroit, MI
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Detroit, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 139.2 | 103.4 |
| 2009 | 137.6 | 98.0 |
| 2010 | 136.3 | 100.3 |
| 2011 | 136.6 | 95.3 |
| 2012 | 134.2 | 96.4 |
| 2013 | 135.1 | 95.7 |
| 2014 | 140.4 | 95.7 |
| 2015 | 144.0 | 93.5 |
| 2016 | 149.2 | 94.0 |
| 2017 | 156.7 | 95.2 |
| 2018 | 159.2 | 94.4 |
| 2019 | 161.6 | 96.9 |
| 2020 | 156.6 | 95.7 |
| 2021 | 153.0 | 90.3 |
| 2022 | 154.7 | 94.2 |
| 2023 | 151.6 | 93.1 |
| 2024 | 151.3 | 94.7 |
Utilities
- Seattle, WA
- Detroit, MI
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Detroit, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 85.1 | 99.9 |
| 2009 | 87.0 | 107.7 |
| 2010 | 87.4 | 107.2 |
| 2011 | 90.1 | 108.2 |
| 2012 | 93.9 | 109.7 |
| 2013 | 99.8 | 109.6 |
| 2014 | 97.1 | 103.5 |
| 2015 | 103.7 | 103.9 |
| 2016 | 99.4 | 104.3 |
| 2017 | 100.0 | 105.7 |
| 2018 | 102.8 | 104.8 |
| 2019 | 106.3 | 100.7 |
| 2020 | 105.6 | 106.0 |
| 2021 | 94.3 | 102.1 |
| 2022 | 87.0 | 101.9 |
| 2023 | 85.3 | 106.8 |
| 2024 | 92.8 | 107.0 |
Other services
- Seattle, WA
- Detroit, MI
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Detroit, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 103.6 | 100.2 |
| 2009 | 103.3 | 99.2 |
| 2010 | 100.7 | 98.0 |
| 2011 | 99.6 | 97.4 |
| 2012 | 101.7 | 96.6 |
| 2013 | 100.0 | 97.5 |
| 2014 | 102.2 | 98.8 |
| 2015 | 101.4 | 96.6 |
| 2016 | 105.2 | 94.9 |
| 2017 | 105.0 | 93.4 |
| 2018 | 103.4 | 96.0 |
| 2019 | 104.9 | 100.0 |
| 2020 | 103.1 | 98.5 |
| 2021 | 105.8 | 98.9 |
| 2022 | 104.9 | 97.7 |
| 2023 | 107.6 | 99.5 |
| 2024 | 106.8 | 102.6 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,514 in Detroit vs $2,250 in Seattle
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Seattle, WA
- Detroit, MI
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Detroit, MI | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,347 | $854 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,384 | $871 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,415 | $879 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,407 | $875 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,443 | $882 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,503 | $899 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,519 | $907 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,507 | $905 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,561 | $918 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,618 | $948 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,632 | $953 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,604 | $952 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,633 | $964 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,681 | $986 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,681 | $994 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,664 | $987 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,696 | $1,007 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,742 | $1,032 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,753 | $1,033 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,743 | $1,032 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,785 | $1,040 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,775 | $1,066 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,761 | $1,100 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,684 | $1,112 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,722 | $1,143 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,830 | $1,187 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,936 | $1,230 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,933 | $1,246 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,979 | $1,265 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,065 | $1,313 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,089 | $1,324 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,020 | $1,310 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,046 | $1,320 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,084 | $1,342 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,098 | $1,354 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,061 | $1,354 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,101 | $1,371 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,153 | $1,401 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,159 | $1,415 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,128 | $1,421 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,165 | $1,435 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,209 | $1,450 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,210 | $1,453 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,183 | $1,457 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,198 | $1,468 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,238 | $1,496 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,250 | $1,514 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $264,000 in Detroit vs $720,000 in Seattle
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Seattle, WA
- Detroit, MI
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Detroit, MI | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $336K | $124K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $344K | $128K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $352K | $131K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $365K | $133K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $379K | $136K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $389K | $139K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $396K | $141K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $407K | $144K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $423K | $148K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $438K | $152K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $449K | $154K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $460K | $157K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $479K | $162K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $495K | $165K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $501K | $168K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $498K | $169K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $498K | $174K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $501K | $177K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $501K | $178K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $508K | $179K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $521K | $182K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $532K | $184K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $542K | $186K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $571K | $194K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $600K | $204K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $640K | $214K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $656K | $217K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $668K | $217K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $721K | $226K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $763K | $236K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $728K | $234K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $706K | $231K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $690K | $231K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $691K | $235K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $705K | $240K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $712K | $242K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $720K | $245K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $734K | $250K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $738K | $251K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $749K | $253K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $751K | $256K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $736K | $257K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $732K | $260K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $739K | $262K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $737K | $264K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $723K | $264K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $720K | $264K | $366K |
More about each city
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.