Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Lynnwood, WA: $3,337 a month against $4,938 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $19,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,938
/mo nomad
Lynnwood, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,337
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New York, NY and in Lynnwood, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in New York, NY and in Lynnwood, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,938 in New York, NY versus $3,337 in Lynnwood, WA.

  • New York, NY $4,938
  • Lynnwood, WA $3,337

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,273 in New York, NY versus $4,679 in Lynnwood, WA.

  • New York, NY $7,273
  • Lynnwood, WA $4,679

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,608 in New York, NY versus $6,020 in Lynnwood, WA.

  • New York, NY $9,608
  • Lynnwood, WA $6,020

Living in New York, NY is roughly 48% more expensive than in Lynnwood, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 264% above, Lynnwood, WA 146% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Lynnwood, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.99 $24.99
$22.12 $22.12
12.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120 $120
$79.9 $79.9
50.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.74 $13.74
$11.94 $11.94
15.08%
Cappuccino
$6.60 $6.60
$5.67 $5.67
16.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 $3.82
$3.19 $3.19
19.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.52 $2.52
13.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.95 $7.95
$6.88 $6.88
15.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.06 $10.06
$7.80 $7.80
28.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Lynnwood, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.09 $1.09
25.69%
White Bread (500g)
$4.75 $4.75
$4.54 $4.54
4.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.69 $7.69
$4.30 $4.30
78.84%
Eggs
$5.87 $5.87
$5.62 $5.62
4.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.25 $19.25
$14.86 $14.86
29.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.83 $17.83
$13.92 $13.92
28.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.03 $19.03
$11.18 $11.18
70.21%
Apples (1kg)
$6.69 $6.69
$4.93 $4.93
35.70%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 $2.29
$1.73 $1.73
32.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.41 $6.41
$4.15 $4.15
54.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.75 $6.75
$4.47 $4.47
51.01%
Potato (1kg)
$3.93 $3.93
$2.17 $2.17
81.11%
Onion (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$3.02 $3.02
49.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.79 $2.79
$1.74 $1.74
60.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.95 $1.95
28.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.10 $18.10
$12.51 $12.51
44.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.16 $20.16
$18.78 $18.78
7.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$1.71 $1.71
90.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 $3.75
$3.43 $3.43
9.33%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Lynnwood, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.07 $3.07
-4.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$143 $143
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.06 $3.06
$2.52 $2.52
21.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.64 $1.64
31.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.33 $41.33
$29.84 $29.84
38.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.38 $1.38
-18.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K $33.1K
$28.1K $28.1K
17.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$26.8K $26.8K
-4.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Lynnwood, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$192 $192
14.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$75.3 $75.3
$81.5 $81.5
-7.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.5 $70.5
$64.5 $64.5
9.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Lynnwood, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$116 $116
$49.36 $49.36
134.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$67.6 $67.6
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$21.37 $21.37
$17.02 $17.02
25.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Lynnwood, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,432 $3,432
$1,963 $1,963
74.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$61.7K $61.7K
$31.7K $31.7K
94.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Lynnwood, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 $74.9
$49.34 $49.34
51.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.1 $52.1
$44.33 $44.33
17.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 $117
$85.6 $85.6
36.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 $135
$102 $102
32.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Lynnwood, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,347 $4,347
$2,045 $2,045
112.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,117 $3,117
$1,999 $1,999
55.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$9,110 $9,110
$2,601 $2,601
250.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,379 $5,379
$3,043 $3,043
76.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.3K $19.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,943 $6,943
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Lynnwood, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,238 $5,238
$4,292 $4,292
22.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.85
6.44
6.37%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 17, 2026

Last update for Lynnwood, WA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3.1K
Lynnwood, WA
$2K 35.9% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$552
Lynnwood, WA
$413 25.1% $139
Eating Out
New York, NY
$407
Lynnwood, WA
$354 13.1% $53
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$365
Lynnwood, WA
$338 7.4% $27
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$170
Lynnwood, WA
$127 25.7% $44
Getting Around
New York, NY
$168
Lynnwood, WA
$23 * 86.3% $145
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$158
Lynnwood, WA
$83 47.3% $75

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,347 in New York, NY and $2,045 in Lynnwood, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 22% 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: $120 in New York, NY vs $80.0 in Lynnwood, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $413 per month, with Lynnwood, WA cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇺🇸 Lynnwood, WA
🕒 Local time
13:29 1:29 PM
10:29 10:29 AM
3 h behind New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
38,568
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New York, NY Lynnwood, WA 3,850 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • New York, NY
  • Lynnwood, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Lynnwood, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, New York, NY or Lynnwood, WA?
Lynnwood, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 48% lower than in New York, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lynnwood, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in New York, NY or in Lynnwood, WA?
Average pay runs 22% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in New York, NY compared to Lynnwood, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $4,347 in New York, NY versus $2,045 in Lynnwood, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in New York, NY and in Lynnwood, WA?
Childcare runs $3,432 in New York, NY versus $1,963 in Lynnwood, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in New York, NY and in Lynnwood, WA?
Dining out is cheaper in Lynnwood, WA – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $120 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in New York, NY or in Lynnwood, WA?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Lynnwood, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, New York, NY or Lynnwood, WA?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lynnwood, WA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,337 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lynnwood, WA hard to pass up.
How safe is New York, NY compared to Lynnwood, WA?
Safety-wise, New York, NY and Lynnwood, 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lynnwood, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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