Cost of Living Comparison Between Brooklyn, NY and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Brooklyn, NY and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,975 per month in Brooklyn, NY vs $3,634 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,049 per month in Brooklyn, NY vs $5,545 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,123 per month in Brooklyn, NY vs $7,456 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Brooklyn, NY costs about 9% more than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Brooklyn, NY and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Brooklyn, NY by 196%, Seattle, WA by 170%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$24.77 $24.77

-17.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$119 $119

-0.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.39 $12.39

$13.78 $13.78

-10.09%

Cappuccino

$5.91 $5.91

$5.61 $5.61

5.35%

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

$2.81 $2.81

$2.89 $2.89

-2.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.46 $2.46

-17.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.91 $7.91

$7.96 $7.96

-0.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.97 $7.97

$8.21 $8.21

-2.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.39 $1.39

9.35%

White Bread (500g)

$4.70 $4.70

$4.86 $4.86

-3.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$5.16 $5.16

26.36%

Eggs

$5.35 $5.35

$6.61 $6.61

-19.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.59 $13.59

$25.06 $25.06

-45.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.31 $12.31

$15.77 $15.77

-21.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.97 $14.97

$20.32 $20.32

-26.33%

Apples (1kg)

$6.08 $6.08

$6.23 $6.23

-2.41%

Banana (1kg)

$4.08 $4.08

$2.74 $2.74

48.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.55 $5.55

$5.33 $5.33

4.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$6.49 $6.49

-5.39%

Potato (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$3.09 $3.09

62.14%

Onion (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$3.86 $3.86

25.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.75 $2.75

-3.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.55 $2.55

-10.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.14 $15.14

$11.35 $11.35

33.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$15.48 $15.48

28.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.84 $2.84

-10.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 $3.64

$4.24 $4.24

-14.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.69 $2.69

10.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$130 $130

$97.8 $97.8

33.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.57 $2.57

18.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.72 $1.72

23.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.19 $42.19

$30.17 $30.17

39.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.15 $1.15

-21.74%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$33.3K $33.3K

-23.41%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$26.5K $26.5K

-6.80%

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

$161 $161

$263 $263

-38.70%

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

$60.5 $60.5

$60.2 $60.2

0.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 $67.5

$74.3 $74.3

-9.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$110 $110

$80.6 $80.6

35.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$68.2 $68.2

$40.99 $40.99

66.46%

Cinema Ticket

$19.93 $19.93

$15.91 $15.91

25.27%

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

$1,914 $1,914

$2,281 $2,281

-16.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K $14.1K

$29.8K $29.8K

-52.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$70.0 $70.0

-11.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.3 $58.3

$53.8 $53.8

8.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 $109

$119 $119

-8.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$143 $143

-8.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,156 $3,156

$2,312 $2,312

36.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,420 $2,420

$1,829 $1,829

32.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,025 $6,025

$4,694 $4,694

28.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,360 $4,360

$3,491 $3,491

24.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.5K $11.5K

$8,154 $8,154

41.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,747 $6,747

$5,200 $5,200

29.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,793 $3,793

$6,564 $6,564

-42.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.42

1.40%

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

Last update for Brooklyn, NY: June 9, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,156 in Brooklyn, NY versus $2,312 in Seattle, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 73% higher in Seattle, WA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Brooklyn, NY versus $119 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $487 vs $538 – making Brooklyn, NY the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Brooklyn, NY vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,975 in Brooklyn, NY, $3,634 in Seattle, WA – roughly 9% apart. Brooklyn, NY costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,963 per month in Brooklyn, NY and $5,452 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Seattle, WA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Brooklyn, NY and $119 in Seattle, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,975 in Brooklyn, NY and $3,634 in Seattle, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,975 in Brooklyn, NY and $3,634 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Brooklyn, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,634 in Seattle, WA to $3,975 in Brooklyn, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Seattle, WA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brooklyn, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.