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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,415 per month in New York, NY vs $2,525 in Buckley, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,980 per month in New York, NY vs $3,692 in Buckley, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,544 per month in New York, NY vs $4,859 in Buckley, WA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 75% more than Buckley, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Buckley, WA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 230%, Buckley, WA by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.48 $29.48

$27.81 $27.81

6.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$69.7 $69.7

105.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.41 $12.41

$12.13 $12.13

2.31%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$6.33 $6.33

-3.95%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$3.40 $3.40

-2.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.80 $2.80

-3.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.17 $8.17

$6.93 $6.93

17.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.04 $12.04

$6.03 $6.03

99.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

$0.76 $0.76

113.16%

White Bread (500g)

$5.08 $5.08

$2.25 $2.25

125.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.12 $8.12

$4.34 $4.34

87.10%

Eggs

$6.87 $6.87

$3.84 $3.84

78.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$13.21 $13.21

33.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$8.76 $8.76

87.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.81 $19.81

$13.40 $13.40

47.84%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 $7.66

$3.35 $3.35

128.66%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.59 $1.59

59.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$2.92 $2.92

92.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$3.31 $3.31

93.35%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$3.02 $3.02

27.15%

Onion (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.65 $2.65

54.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.57 $2.57

19.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.67 $2.67

-6.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.83 $18.83

$10.16 $10.16

85.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$7.17 $7.17

174.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.89 $1.89

58.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.55 $4.55

-17.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.01 $2.01

46.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 $5.05

$5.02 $5.02

0.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.26 $1.26

74.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.75 $42.75

$24.71 $24.71

73.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.13 $1.13

-14.16%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$34.8K $34.8K

0.54%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$25.7K $25.7K

10.23%

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

$182 $182

$125 $125

45.52%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$61.7 $61.7

-2.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 $63.5

$40.79 $40.79

55.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$43.41 $43.41

228.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 $63.6

Cinema Ticket

$19.89 $19.89

$11.14 $11.14

78.55%

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

$3,129 $3,129

$1,468 $1,468

113.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$58.2K $58.2K

$23.8K $23.8K

144.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$26.76 $26.76

152.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$60.2 $60.2

-21.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$42.10 $42.10

167.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$65.9 $65.9

164.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,145 $4,145

$1,580 $1,580

162.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,331 $1,331

102.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,255 $8,255

$2,678 $2,678

208.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,298 $5,298

$2,231 $2,231

137.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.5K $18.5K

$2,680 $2,680

591.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,505 $6,505

$2,360 $2,360

175.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,520 $5,520

$2,452 $2,452

125.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.66

-3.30%

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

Last update for New York, NY: July 13, 2026

Last update for Buckley, WA: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,145 in New York, NY versus $1,580 in Buckley, 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 125% higher in New York, NY, 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 $143 in New York, NY versus $70.0 in Buckley, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $553 vs $331 – making Buckley, WA 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

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

Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 75%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,623 per month in New York, NY and $3,788 in Buckley, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Buckley, 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 $143 in New York, NY and $70.0 in Buckley, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 67% more in New York, NY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Buckley, WA, where all-in costs run around $2,525, than in New York, NY at $4,415. In Buckley, WA it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Buckley, WA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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