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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,841 in New York, NY versus $2,594 in Lacey, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,287 in New York, NY versus $3,823 in Lacey, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,734 in New York, NY versus $5,053 in Lacey, WA.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 87% more expensive than in Lacey, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 254% above, Lacey, WA 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.33 $25.33

$24.53 $24.53

3.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$68.7 $68.7

107.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$13.12 $13.12

5.03%

Cappuccino

$6.19 $6.19

$6.08 $6.08

1.81%

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

$3.69 $3.69

$3.96 $3.96

-6.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.51 $2.51

17.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$8.23 $8.23

-5.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$10.03 $10.03

1.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.09 $1.09

27.52%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.44 $4.44

3.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$2.78 $2.78

149.64%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$5.11 $5.11

13.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$14.85 $14.85

16.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$10.62 $10.62

41.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.02 $18.02

$10.95 $10.95

64.57%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$5.32 $5.32

18.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.63 $1.63

30.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$4.01 $4.01

44.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$4.32 $4.32

45.37%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.35 $2.35

44.26%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$2.47 $2.47

72.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.31 $2.31

19.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.97 $1.97

29.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$12.10 $12.10

54.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 $20.30

$15.14 $15.14

34.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.08 $2.08

51.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$2.40 $2.40

67.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.99 $1.99

49.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$5.13 $5.13

-39.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.68 $2.68

-20.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

$51.7 $51.7

-19.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.31 $1.31

-13.74%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$36.3K $36.3K

-2.34%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.3K $25.3K

1.04%

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

$236 $236

$157 $157

50.90%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$53.1 $53.1

38.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$94.7 $94.7

-23.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$41.53 $41.53

201.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.1 $63.1

Cinema Ticket

$23.37 $23.37

$12.68 $12.68

84.31%

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

$3,353 $3,353

$1,465 $1,465

128.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.0K $61.0K

$49.2K $49.2K

23.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$44.74 $44.74

61.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$36.76 $36.76

41.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$90.5 $90.5

28.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$100 $100

23.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,438 $4,438

$1,611 $1,611

175.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,045 $3,045

$1,321 $1,321

130.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,088 $9,088

$2,525 $2,525

259.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,404 $5,404

$2,160 $2,160

150.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K $18.8K

$2,702 $2,702

596.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 $6,500

$2,423 $2,423

168.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,258 $5,258

$4,164 $4,164

26.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.03

7.63%

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 Lacey, WA: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,438 in New York, NY and $1,611 in Lacey, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 26% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $142 in New York, NY vs $69.0 in Lacey, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $516 vs $382 per month, with Lacey, 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 Lacey, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lacey, WA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 87% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 26% higher in New York, NY, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,438 in New York, NY versus $1,611 in Lacey, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,353 in New York, NY versus $1,465 in Lacey, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Lacey, WA – a meal for two runs $69.0 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 $2,500. Lacey, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Lacey, WA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in New York, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, New York, NY and Lacey, 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 Lacey, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.