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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,056 in Bothell, WA versus $4,503 in New York, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,690 in Bothell, WA versus $7,077 in New York, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,324 in Bothell, WA versus $9,650 in New York, NY.

Living in Bothell, WA costs roughly 32% less than in New York, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bothell, WA 128% above, New York, NY 236% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$30.28 $30.28

-31.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$142 $142

-28.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.14 $14.14

$12.65 $12.65

11.78%

Cappuccino

$5.88 $5.88

$5.81 $5.81

1.20%

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

$3.34 $3.34

$3.26 $3.26

2.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.58 $2.58

-4.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.83 $6.83

$8.19 $8.19

-16.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.89 $7.89

$11.82 $11.82

-33.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.53 $1.53

-20.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$5.27 $5.27

-28.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$8.34 $8.34

-37.41%

Eggs

$6.54 $6.54

$7.25 $7.25

-9.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.16 $17.16

$17.29 $17.29

-0.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.07 $11.07

$16.21 $16.21

-31.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.52 $16.52

$19.82 $19.82

-16.65%

Apples (1kg)

$6.56 $6.56

$7.57 $7.57

-13.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.42 $2.42

-20.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$5.83 $5.83

-8.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$6.39 $6.39

-19.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$3.87 $3.87

-15.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$4.06 $4.06

-31.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.12 $3.12

-34.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.45 $2.45

7.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.44 $11.44

$19.26 $19.26

-40.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.97 $12.97

$19.96 $19.96

-35.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.99 $2.99

-0.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 $4.16

$3.73 $3.73

11.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.84 $2.84

-2.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.9 $97.9

$134 $134

-27.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 $2.62

$5.11 $5.11

-48.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.11 $2.11

-21.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.54 $29.54

$42.31 $42.31

-30.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.97 $0.97

16.49%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$34.7K $34.7K

-5.72%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.8K $27.8K

-5.60%

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

$154 $154

$181 $181

-15.33%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$60.2 $60.2

-0.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.7 $79.7

$62.5 $62.5

27.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.4 $59.4

$143 $143

-58.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

Cinema Ticket

$14.77 $14.77

$19.98 $19.98

-26.08%

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

$1,473 $1,473

$3,216 $3,216

-54.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$57.2K $57.2K

-47.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.2 $52.2

$67.5 $67.5

-22.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$47.68 $47.68

9.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$111 $111

4.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$140 $140

$169 $169

-16.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,920 $1,920

$4,092 $4,092

-53.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$2,694 $2,694

-41.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,283 $3,283

$8,445 $8,445

-61.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,932 $2,932

$5,128 $5,128

-42.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,857 $5,857

$18.2K $18.2K

-67.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,813 $4,813

$6,299 $6,299

-23.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,254 $6,254

$5,540 $5,540

12.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

6.44

0.31%

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

Last update for Bothell, WA: June 1, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,920 in Bothell, WA and $4,092 in New York, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bothell, WA pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $102 in Bothell, WA vs $142 in New York, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $449 vs $554 per month, with Bothell, 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

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

Bothell, WA and New York, NY differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($3,056 vs $4,503 including rent). Bothell, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Bothell, WA pays 13% 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: $1,920 in Bothell, WA versus $4,092 in New York, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Bothell, WA – a meal for two runs $102 versus $142 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Bothell, WA 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, Bothell, WA and New York, NY 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 Bothell, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.