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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,841 per month in New York, NY vs $2,369 in Ellensburg, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,287 per month in New York, NY vs $3,509 in Ellensburg, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,734 per month in New York, NY vs $4,648 in Ellensburg, WA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 104% more than Ellensburg, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Ellensburg, WA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 254%, Ellensburg, WA by 73%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.33 $25.33

$15.08 $15.08

67.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$101 $101

40.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$12.09 $12.09

13.98%

Cappuccino

$6.19 $6.19

$5.45 $5.45

13.58%

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

$3.69 $3.69

$1.51 $1.51

144.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.28 $1.28

131.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$4.92 $4.92

57.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$7.92 $7.92

28.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.06 $1.06

31.13%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$2.77 $2.77

65.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$4.98 $4.98

39.36%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$4.12 $4.12

40.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$15.28 $15.28

13.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$6.52 $6.52

130.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.02 $18.02

$13.91 $13.91

29.55%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$4.83 $4.83

30.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.44 $1.44

47.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$4.33 $4.33

33.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$4.10 $4.10

53.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$1.55 $1.55

118.71%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$2.20 $2.20

94.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.02 $2.02

37.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.88 $1.88

36.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$9.91 $9.91

88.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 $20.30

$15.11 $15.11

34.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$4.18 $4.18

-24.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$5.66 $5.66

-28.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.95 $1.95

52.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.59 $2.59

19.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.71 $1.71

25.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

$30.20 $30.20

37.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.09 $1.09

3.67%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$31.7K $31.7K

11.62%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.0K $26.0K

-1.65%

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

$236 $236

$148 $148

59.69%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$40.59 $40.59

81.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$71.2 $71.2

1.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$42.28 $42.28

196.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.1 $63.1

Cinema Ticket

$23.37 $23.37

$16.03 $16.03

45.79%

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

$3,353 $3,353

$1,409 $1,409

138.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.0K $61.0K

$31.5K $31.5K

93.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$34.65 $34.65

109.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$35.57 $35.57

46.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$111 $111

5.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$40.69 $40.69

204.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,438 $4,438

$1,578 $1,578

181.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,045 $3,045

$1,271 $1,271

139.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,088 $9,088

$2,506 $2,506

262.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,404 $5,404

$2,149 $2,149

151.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K $18.8K

$4,490 $4,490

318.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 $6,500

$4,364 $4,364

48.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,258 $5,258

$1,793 $1,793

193.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.45

0.62%

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

Last update for New York, NY: September 12, 2026

Last update for Ellensburg, WA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,438 in New York, NY versus $1,578 in Ellensburg, 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 193% 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 $142 in New York, NY versus $101 in Ellensburg, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $516 vs $368 – making Ellensburg, 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 Ellensburg, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 104% more than Ellensburg, WA, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,261 per month in New York, NY and $3,553 in Ellensburg, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ellensburg, 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 $142 in New York, NY and $101 in Ellensburg, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,841 in New York, NY and $2,369 in Ellensburg, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ellensburg, WA costs $2,369 versus $4,841 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Ellensburg, 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.