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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,459 in New York, NY versus $2,491 in Lakewood, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,988 in New York, NY versus $3,762 in Lakewood, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,517 in New York, NY versus $5,033 in Lakewood, WA.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 79% more expensive than in Lakewood, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 234% above, Lakewood, WA 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.11 $30.11

$22.67 $22.67

32.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$118 $118

21.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.67 $12.67

$12.54 $12.54

1.04%

Cappuccino

$6.07 $6.07

$5.99 $5.99

1.34%

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

$3.27 $3.27

$5.11 $5.11

-36.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.37 $2.37

9.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$8.79 $8.79

-9.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.18 $12.18

$11.84 $11.84

2.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.05 $1.05

46.67%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$1.27 $1.27

299.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.39 $8.39

$2.86 $2.86

193.36%

Eggs

$7.11 $7.11

$5.00 $5.00

42.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.70 $17.70

$10.87 $10.87

62.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.71 $16.71

$15.57 $15.57

7.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.85 $19.85

$15.69 $15.69

26.51%

Apples (1kg)

$7.38 $7.38

$5.06 $5.06

45.85%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.54 $1.54

66.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$2.78 $2.78

110.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.35 $6.35

$3.57 $3.57

77.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.01 $2.01

86.57%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.00 $2.00

103.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.42 $2.42

29.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$3.02 $3.02

-17.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$9.50 $9.50

96.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.79 $19.79

$16.08 $16.08

23.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.14 $2.14

41.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.33 $3.33

12.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.03 $2.03

40.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.94 $4.94

$2.54 $2.54

94.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.59 $1.59

40.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.11 $42.11

$29.50 $29.50

42.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.15 $1.15

-15.65%

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

$34.8K $34.8K

$23.6K $23.6K

47.62%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$20.1K $20.1K

37.96%

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

$180 $180

$84.1 $84.1

114.49%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$51.4 $51.4

17.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.6 $62.6

$54.2 $54.2

15.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$142 $142

$43.63 $43.63

225.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.8 $64.8

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$13.75 $13.75

45.31%

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

$3,220 $3,220

$2,134 $2,134

50.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.0K $57.0K

$30.5K $30.5K

87.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.3 $67.3

$27.42 $27.42

145.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.36 $48.36

$36.75 $36.75

31.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$84.7 $84.7

32.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 $171

$75.3 $75.3

126.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,136 $4,136

$1,617 $1,617

155.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,635 $2,635

$1,362 $1,362

93.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,333 $8,333

$2,348 $2,348

254.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,118 $5,118

$2,220 $2,220

130.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

$2,682 $2,682

595.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$2,399 $2,399

169.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,420 $5,420

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.61

-2.57%

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

Last update for New York, NY: July 19, 2026

Last update for Lakewood, WA: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,136 in New York, NY and $1,617 in Lakewood, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $143 in New York, NY vs $118 in Lakewood, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $555 vs $381 per month, with Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY and Lakewood, WA differ by about 79% in total monthly costs ($4,459 vs $2,491 including rent). Lakewood, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $6,688 in New York, NY and $3,737 in Lakewood, WA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,136 in New York, NY versus $1,617 in Lakewood, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $4,459 per month in New York, NY versus $2,491 in Lakewood, WA – a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.