Cost of Living Comparison Between Albany, NY and Federal Way, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Albany, NY and Federal Way, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,681 in Albany, NY versus $3,378 in Federal Way, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,205 in Albany, NY versus $4,400 in Federal Way, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,728 in Albany, NY versus $5,423 in Federal Way, WA.

Living in Albany, NY costs roughly 21% less than in Federal Way, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Albany, NY 100% above, Federal Way, WA 152% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.32 $19.32

$27.13 $27.13

-28.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.5 $78.5

$69.9 $69.9

12.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.81 $12.81

$12.33 $12.33

3.89%

Cappuccino

$6.13 $6.13

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.99 $2.99

-7.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.23 $2.23

-11.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.06 $5.06

$7.08 $7.08

-28.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.16 $6.16

$5.86 $5.86

5.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.11 $1.11

-5.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.70 $3.70

5.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.14 $4.14

33.33%

Eggs

$5.27 $5.27

$4.88 $4.88

7.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.13 $14.13

$13.48 $13.48

4.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$10.35 $10.35

36.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.48 $17.48

$17.26 $17.26

1.27%

Apples (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$5.04 $5.04

-6.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.57 $1.57

-7.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$4.20 $4.20

14.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$5.06 $5.06

-0.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.95 $2.95

-0.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.67 $2.67

27.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 $3.19

$1.98 $1.98

61.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.93 $2.93

-37.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.47 $14.47

$12.26 $12.26

18.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.22 $14.22

$18.44 $18.44

-22.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.71 $1.71

29.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 $4.07

$5.07 $5.07

-19.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.54 $2.54

-41.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.0 $65.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.95 $4.95

$2.55 $2.55

94.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.95 $1.95

-27.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.20 $27.20

$29.94 $29.94

-9.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.12 $1.12

-11.61%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$35.4K $35.4K

-15.01%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$25.4K $25.4K

-0.38%

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

$211 $211

$126 $126

67.08%

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

$56.9 $56.9

$70.3 $70.3

-18.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.0 $76.0

$86.6 $86.6

-12.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.01 $31.01

$12.92 $12.92

140.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.06 $22.06

Cinema Ticket

$15.23 $15.23

$11.13 $11.13

36.84%

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

$1,399 $1,399

$1,441 $1,441

-2.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.4K $28.4K

$31.8K $31.8K

-10.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

$52.1 $52.1

1.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.49 $46.49

$44.79 $44.79

3.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 $83.6

$86.7 $86.7

-3.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$97.4 $97.4

4.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,433 $1,433

$1,976 $1,976

-27.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 $1,267

$2,053 $2,053

-38.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,955 $2,955

$2,749 $2,749

7.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,586 $2,586

$2,414 $2,414

7.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,416 $2,416

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,495 $2,495

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,169 $4,169

$4,368 $4,368

-4.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.51

-0.92%

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

Last update for Albany, NY: May 31, 2026

Last update for Federal Way, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,433 in Albany, NY and $1,976 in Federal Way, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Federal Way, WA pays 5% 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: $79.0 in Albany, NY vs $70.0 in Federal Way, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $433 vs $418 per month, with Federal Way, WA 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

Albany, NY vs Federal Way, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Albany, NY wins on cost – living expenses run 26% lower than in Federal Way, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Albany, NY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Federal Way, WA earns 5% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,433 in Albany, NY versus $1,976 in Federal Way, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Federal Way, WA pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,681 per month in Albany, NY versus $3,378 in Federal Way, WA – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Albany, NY and Federal Way, WA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Albany, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Federal Way, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.