Cost of Living Comparison Between Long Island, NY and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Long Island, NY and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,624 per month in Long Island, NY vs $3,880 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,315 per month in Long Island, NY vs $5,820 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,005 per month in Long Island, NY vs $7,759 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Long Island, NY is about 7% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Long Island, NY and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Long Island, NY by 165%, Seattle, WA by 184%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.86 $24.86

$25.01 $25.01

-0.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$99.9 $99.9

1.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 $10.96

$15.06 $15.06

-27.22%

Cappuccino

$5.00 $5.00

$6.37 $6.37

-21.51%

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

$2.21 $2.21

$3.08 $3.08

-28.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 $1.58

$3.00 $3.00

-47.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$7.80 $7.80

1.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$8.21 $8.21

-4.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.21 $1.21

9.92%

White Bread (500g)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.99 $4.99

-12.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$6.39 $6.39

-69.01%

Eggs

$5.13 $5.13

$5.12 $5.12

0.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.38 $12.38

$21.05 $21.05

-41.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$18.38 $18.38

-35.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.75 $16.75

$24.03 $24.03

-30.30%

Apples (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$5.89 $5.89

-27.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.88 $1.88

-32.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$5.29 $5.29

-59.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.02 $5.02

$6.47 $6.47

-22.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 $1.12

$3.68 $3.68

-69.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$3.36 $3.36

-35.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.79 $2.79

-45.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 $1.56

$2.58 $2.58

-39.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.30 $11.30

$13.92 $13.92

-18.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$14.99 $14.99

-1.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$4.28 $4.28

-60.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 $4.12

$5.86 $5.86

-29.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.92 $2.92

-3.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$130 $130

$109 $109

19.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.57 $2.57

15.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.72 $1.72

18.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.88 $23.88

$30.40 $30.40

-21.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.40 $1.40

-24.29%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$36.1K $36.1K

0.78%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$25.5K $25.5K

-0.95%

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

$217 $217

$299 $299

-27.60%

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

$46.87 $46.87

$69.4 $69.4

-32.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.5 $53.5

$87.7 $87.7

-39.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.24 $31.24

$80.2 $80.2

-61.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$103 $103

$34.93 $34.93

195.76%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$17.70 $17.70

-16.89%

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

$2,286 $2,286

$3,020 $3,020

-24.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K $23.4K

$31.0K $31.0K

-24.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.09 $40.09

$77.3 $77.3

-48.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.7 $57.7

$55.1 $55.1

4.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 $77.2

$128 $128

-39.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$154 $154

$159 $159

-3.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,632 $2,632

$2,488 $2,488

5.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,271 $2,271

$1,930 $1,930

17.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,705 $4,705

$4,755 $4,755

-1.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$3,639 $3,639

-2.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 $4,332

$7,583 $7,583

-42.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,315 $4,315

$5,109 $5,109

-15.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,938 $4,938

$6,219 $6,219

-20.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

6.45

-4.34%

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

Last update for Long Island, NY: September 12, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,632 in Long Island, NY versus $2,488 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 26% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Long Island, NY versus $100 in Seattle, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $373 in Long Island, NY vs $552 in Seattle, WA – so Long Island, NY wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,624 in Long Island, NY, $3,880 in Seattle, WA – roughly 7% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,437 per month in Long Island, NY and $5,820 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $2,286 per month in Long Island, NY and $3,020 in Seattle, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 48% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,624 in Long Island, NY and $3,880 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Long Island, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,624 in Long Island, NY to $3,880 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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