Cost of Living Comparison Between Arlington, WA and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Arlington, WA and New York, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,370 in Arlington, WA versus $4,557 in New York, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,537 in Arlington, WA versus $7,115 in New York, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,705 in Arlington, WA versus $9,674 in New York, NY.

Living in Arlington, WA costs roughly 48% less than in New York, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Arlington, WA 77% above, New York, NY 240% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.34 $16.34

$29.90 $29.90

-45.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.4 $72.4

$143 $143

-49.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.42 $12.42

$12.67 $12.67

-1.97%

Cappuccino

$5.22 $5.22

$5.78 $5.78

-9.69%

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

$2.94 $2.94

$3.40 $3.40

-13.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.69 $2.69

-23.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.11 $5.11

$8.07 $8.07

-36.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.86 $11.86

0.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.61 $1.61

-33.54%

White Bread (500g)

$4.10 $4.10

$5.14 $5.14

-20.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$8.17 $8.17

-40.88%

Eggs

$4.93 $4.93

$7.16 $7.16

-31.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.68 $9.68

$17.24 $17.24

-43.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.89 $7.89

$16.17 $16.17

-51.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.23 $15.23

$20.46 $20.46

-25.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$7.33 $7.33

-61.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.42 $2.42

-30.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$5.75 $5.75

-11.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$6.52 $6.52

-25.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.81 $3.81

-11.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 $2.89

$3.96 $3.96

-27.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$3.08 $3.08

-34.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.46 $2.46

21.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.09 $11.09

$19.03 $19.03

-41.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.91 $14.91

$20.16 $20.16

-26.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.89 $2.89

-41.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.37 $6.37

$3.74 $3.74

70.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.86 $2.86

-28.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$130 $130

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 $2.62

$4.97 $4.97

-47.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 $0.74

$2.24 $2.24

-66.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$42.20 $42.20

-29.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.96 $0.96

10.42%

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

$36.7K $36.7K

$34.7K $34.7K

5.76%

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

$24.0K $24.0K

$28.1K $28.1K

-14.55%

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

$214 $214

$183 $183

16.97%

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

$49.86 $49.86

$59.5 $59.5

-16.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.68 $44.68

$63.4 $63.4

-29.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.63 $33.63

$140 $140

-76.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.9 $63.9

Cinema Ticket

$14.77 $14.77

$19.98 $19.98

-26.08%

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

$2,078 $2,078

$3,153 $3,153

-34.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$56.3K $56.3K

-44.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.28 $38.28

$67.7 $67.7

-43.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.43 $39.43

$48.48 $48.48

-18.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 $72.9

$115 $115

-36.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$170 $170

-40.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,291 $1,291

$4,113 $4,113

-68.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,218 $1,218

$2,651 $2,651

-54.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$8,230 $8,230

-70.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,030 $2,030

$5,113 $5,113

-60.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,754 $8,754

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,762 $5,762

$5,049 $5,049

14.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.85

6.44

-24.69%

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

Last update for Arlington, WA: April 25, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,291 in Arlington, WA and $4,113 in New York, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arlington, WA pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $72.0 in Arlington, WA vs $143 in New York, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $385 vs $553 per month, with Arlington, 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

Arlington, WA vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arlington, WA and New York, NY differ by about 92% in total monthly costs ($2,370 vs $4,557 including rent). Arlington, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Arlington, WA pays 14% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,291 in Arlington, WA versus $4,113 in New York, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,370 per month in Arlington, WA versus $4,557 in New York, NY – a 92% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,370 in Arlington, WA versus $4,557 in New York, NY, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Arlington, WA but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Arlington, WA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Arlington, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 92% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.