Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Federal Way, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Federal Way, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,852 per month in New York, NY vs $3,302 in Federal Way, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,370 per month in New York, NY vs $4,320 in Federal Way, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,889 per month in New York, NY vs $5,338 in Federal Way, WA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 47% more than Federal Way, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both New York, NY and Federal Way, WA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 252%, Federal Way, WA by 139%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.42 $25.42

$24.57 $24.57

3.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$75.0 $75.0

88.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.97 $13.97

$12.54 $12.54

11.40%

Cappuccino

$6.42 $6.42

$5.77 $5.77

11.27%

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

$3.91 $3.91

$2.86 $2.86

36.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.68 $1.68

76.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$7.05 $7.05

11.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.86 $9.86

$7.14 $7.14

38.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.14 $1.14

16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$4.73 $4.73

$4.11 $4.11

15.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.89 $6.89

$3.12 $3.12

120.83%

Eggs

$5.63 $5.63

$5.02 $5.02

12.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$15.99 $15.99

8.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.02 $15.02

$10.68 $10.68

40.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.97 $17.97

$19.37 $19.37

-7.23%

Apples (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$5.00 $5.00

20.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.62 $1.62

32.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.30 $4.30

36.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.21 $6.21

$4.49 $4.49

38.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.65 $2.65

28.30%

Onion (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$2.44 $2.44

74.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.23 $2.23

19.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.35 $2.35

3.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$12.32 $12.32

51.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.72 $19.72

$14.73 $14.73

33.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.24 $3.24

$1.68 $1.68

92.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.98 $4.98

-21.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.63 $2.63

12.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$139 $139

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.61 $2.61

16.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.64 $1.64

35.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.33 $41.33

$29.52 $29.52

40.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.25 $1.25

-13.60%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$36.7K $36.7K

-3.71%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$26.1K $26.1K

-4.31%

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

$236 $236

$159 $159

48.27%

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

$73.5 $73.5

$78.8 $78.8

-6.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$87.2 $87.2

-12.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$128 $128

$13.03 $13.03

884.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.5 $63.5

Cinema Ticket

$23.19 $23.19

$11.92 $11.92

94.55%

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

$3,340 $3,340

$1,452 $1,452

130.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$59.9K $59.9K

$32.0K $32.0K

87.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.8 $72.8

$44.38 $44.38

63.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.1 $54.1

$45.35 $45.35

19.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$83.3 $83.3

42.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$103 $103

21.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,467 $4,467

$2,034 $2,034

119.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,988 $2,988

$2,058 $2,058

45.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,222 $9,222

$2,766 $2,766

233.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,537 $5,537

$2,438 $2,438

127.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.9K $18.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,621 $6,621

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,327 $5,327

$4,397 $4,397

21.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.09

6.57%

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

Last update for New York, NY: September 7, 2026

Last update for Federal Way, WA: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,467 in New York, NY versus $2,034 in Federal Way, 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 21% 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 $75.0 in Federal Way, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $512 vs $417 – making Federal Way, 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 Federal Way, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 47%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,278 per month in New York, NY and $4,953 in Federal Way, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,852 in New York, NY and $3,302 in Federal Way, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,340 per month in New York, NY and $1,452 in Federal Way, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,852 in New York, NY and $3,302 in Federal Way, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

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 Federal Way, 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.