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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in New York, NY is roughly 47% more expensive than Bothell, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$20.71 $20.71

46.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$102 $102

39.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$14.14 $14.14

-10.54%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$5.88 $5.88

-1.19%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$3.34 $3.34

-2.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.47 $2.47

4.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$6.83 $6.83

19.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$7.89 $7.89

49.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.22 $1.22

25.41%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$3.75 $3.75

40.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$5.22 $5.22

59.77%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$6.54 $6.54

10.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$17.16 $17.16

0.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$11.07 $11.07

46.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$16.52 $16.52

19.98%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$6.56 $6.56

15.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.92 $1.92

26.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$5.34 $5.34

9.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.13 $5.13

24.56%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.27 $3.27

18.35%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.77 $2.77

46.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.03 $2.03

53.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.64 $2.64

-7.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$11.44 $11.44

68.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$12.97 $12.97

53.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.98 $2.98

0.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$4.16 $4.16

-10.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.78 $2.78

2.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$97.9 $97.9

37.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$2.62 $2.62

95.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.66 $1.66

27.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$29.54 $29.54

43.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.13 $1.13

-14.16%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$32.7K $32.7K

6.07%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

5.93%

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

$181 $181

$154 $154

18.10%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$59.9 $59.9

0.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$79.7 $79.7

-21.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$59.4 $59.4

140.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$14.77 $14.77

35.27%

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

$3,216 $3,216

$1,473 $1,473

118.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$29.8K $29.8K

91.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$52.2 $52.2

29.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$52.2 $52.2

-8.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$116 $116

-4.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$140 $140

20.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$1,920 $1,920

113.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$1,579 $1,579

70.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$3,283 $3,283

157.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$2,932 $2,932

74.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$5,857 $5,857

210.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

$4,813 $4,813

30.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

$6,254 $6,254

-11.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.46

-0.31%

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

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

Last update for Bothell, WA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,092 in New York, NY and $1,920 in Bothell, WA. 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: $142 in New York, NY vs $102 in Bothell, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $449 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

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

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

On paper, Bothell, WA earns 13% less. 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: $4,092 in New York, NY versus $1,920 in Bothell, WA. 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, New York, NY and Bothell, WA 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.