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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,443 in New York, NY versus $2,396 in Arlington, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,945 in New York, NY versus $3,512 in Arlington, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,447 in New York, NY versus $4,629 in Arlington, WA.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 85% more expensive than in Arlington, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 234% above, Arlington, WA 80% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.45 $30.45

$16.62 $16.62

83.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$146 $146

$73.4 $73.4

98.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.71 $12.71

$12.51 $12.51

1.60%

Cappuccino

$5.87 $5.87

$5.30 $5.30

10.75%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$2.86 $2.86

12.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.96 $1.96

38.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$4.94 $4.94

65.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.89 $11.89

$12.15 $12.15

-2.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.05 $1.05

48.57%

White Bread (500g)

$5.01 $5.01

$4.11 $4.11

21.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.33 $8.33

$4.85 $4.85

71.75%

Eggs

$7.02 $7.02

$4.78 $4.78

46.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$9.84 $9.84

76.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.72 $16.72

$8.01 $8.01

108.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.01 $20.01

$15.67 $15.67

27.70%

Apples (1kg)

$7.72 $7.72

$2.73 $2.73

182.78%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.65 $1.65

49.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$5.08 $5.08

12.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$5.11 $5.11

25.64%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.34 $3.34

12.28%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.83 $2.83

38.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.95 $1.95

55.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.99 $2.99

-14.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.84 $18.84

$10.93 $10.93

72.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$18.27 $18.27

7.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.77 $1.77

69.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$6.42 $6.42

-39.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.96 $1.96

46.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$2.65 $2.65

92.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$0.74 $0.74

197.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.93 $41.93

$29.66 $29.66

41.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.03 $1.03

-4.85%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$36.1K $36.1K

-1.87%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$24.5K $24.5K

12.34%

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

$184 $184

$216 $216

-14.53%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$50.2 $50.2

19.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 $62.4

$44.37 $44.37

40.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$33.34 $33.34

318.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.0 $65.0

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$14.91 $14.91

36.35%

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

$3,153 $3,153

$2,101 $2,101

50.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.8K $56.8K

$31.8K $31.8K

78.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$37.42 $37.42

81.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.89 $47.89

$39.94 $39.94

19.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$72.1 $72.1

59.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$100 $100

72.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,125 $4,125

$1,296 $1,296

218.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,685 $2,685

$1,200 $1,200

123.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,262 $8,262

$2,533 $2,533

226.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,258 $5,258

$2,036 $2,036

158.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,584 $5,584

$5,714 $5,714

-2.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

4.85

32.78%

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

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

Last update for Arlington, WA: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,125 in New York, NY and $1,296 in Arlington, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arlington, WA pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $146 in New York, NY vs $73.0 in Arlington, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $555 vs $394 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

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

New York, NY and Arlington, WA differ by about 85% in total monthly costs ($4,443 vs $2,396 including rent). Arlington, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 2% lower in Arlington, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,125 in New York, NY versus $1,296 in Arlington, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $4,443 per month in New York, NY versus $2,396 in Arlington, WA – a 85% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,396 in Arlington, WA versus $4,443 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 85% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.