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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Federal Way, WA is roughly 26% more expensive than Albany, NY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.13 $27.13

$19.32 $19.32

40.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 $69.9

$78.5 $78.5

-10.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.33 $12.33

$12.81 $12.81

-3.75%

Cappuccino

$6.13 $6.13

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

$2.99 $2.99

$2.77 $2.77

7.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.98 $1.98

12.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.08 $7.08

$5.06 $5.06

39.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$6.16 $6.16

-4.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.05 $1.05

5.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.70 $3.70

$3.91 $3.91

-5.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$5.52 $5.52

-25.00%

Eggs

$4.88 $4.88

$5.27 $5.27

-7.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.48 $13.48

$14.13 $14.13

-4.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.35 $10.35

$14.16 $14.16

-26.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.26 $17.26

$17.48 $17.48

-1.26%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.71 $4.71

7.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.46 $1.46

7.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 $4.20

$4.82 $4.82

-12.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$5.01 $5.01

1.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.94 $2.94

0.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.40 $3.40

-21.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$3.19 $3.19

-37.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.82 $1.82

60.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.26 $12.26

$14.47 $14.47

-15.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.44 $18.44

$14.22 $14.22

29.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.22 $2.22

-22.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.07 $4.07

24.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.48 $1.48

71.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.0 $65.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 $2.55

$4.95 $4.95

-48.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.42 $1.42

37.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.94 $29.94

$27.20 $27.20

10.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$0.99 $0.99

13.13%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$30.0K $30.0K

17.66%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$25.3K $25.3K

0.38%

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

$126 $126

$211 $211

-40.15%

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

$70.3 $70.3

$56.9 $56.9

23.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.6 $86.6

$76.0 $76.0

13.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.92 $12.92

$31.01 $31.01

-58.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.06 $22.06

Cinema Ticket

$11.13 $11.13

$15.23 $15.23

-26.92%

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

$1,441 $1,441

$1,399 $1,399

3.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.8K $31.8K

$28.4K $28.4K

12.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 $52.1

$52.8 $52.8

-1.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.79 $44.79

$46.49 $46.49

-3.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 $86.7

$83.6 $83.6

3.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.4 $97.4

$102 $102

-4.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,976 $1,976

$1,433 $1,433

37.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,053 $2,053

$1,267 $1,267

62.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,749 $2,749

$2,955 $2,955

-6.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,414 $2,414

$2,586 $2,586

-6.65%

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)

$4,368 $4,368

$4,169 $4,169

4.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.45

0.93%

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

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

Last update for Albany, NY: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,976 in Federal Way, WA and $1,433 in Albany, NY. 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: $70.0 in Federal Way, WA vs $79.0 in Albany, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $418 vs $433 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

Federal Way, WA vs Albany, NY: 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.

Federal Way, WA pays 5% 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: $1,976 in Federal Way, WA versus $1,433 in Albany, NY. 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 $3,378 per month in Federal Way, WA versus $2,681 in Albany, NY – 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, Federal Way, WA and Albany, 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 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.