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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,878 in New York, NY versus $3,282 in Lynnwood, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,262 in New York, NY versus $4,740 in Lynnwood, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,645 in New York, NY versus $6,199 in Lynnwood, WA.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 49% more expensive than in Lynnwood, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 255% above, Lynnwood, WA 139% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.20 $25.20

$22.72 $22.72

10.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 $150

$102 $102

47.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.98 $13.98

$11.94 $11.94

17.09%

Cappuccino

$6.39 $6.39

$6.09 $6.09

4.93%

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

$4.01 $4.01

$3.24 $3.24

23.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.22 $2.22

31.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 $8.01

$7.14 $7.14

12.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.94 $9.94

$8.13 $8.13

22.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.08 $1.08

23.15%

White Bread (500g)

$4.80 $4.80

$4.47 $4.47

7.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.81 $6.81

$4.28 $4.28

59.11%

Eggs

$5.67 $5.67

$5.58 $5.58

1.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.66 $16.66

$15.36 $15.36

8.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.82 $14.82

$13.16 $13.16

12.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.90 $18.90

$11.04 $11.04

71.20%

Apples (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$4.47 $4.47

34.90%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.74 $2.74

-21.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$5.34 $5.34

6.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$4.46 $4.46

36.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.14 $2.14

63.08%

Onion (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$3.54 $3.54

16.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.20 $2.20

21.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.05 $2.05

24.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.04 $19.04

$12.26 $12.26

55.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.73 $19.73

$17.89 $17.89

10.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.30 $3.30

$1.71 $1.71

92.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.50 $3.50

13.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.99 $2.99

$3.05 $3.05

-1.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 $140

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$9.96 $9.96

-70.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 $2.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.24 $41.24

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.34 $1.34

-17.16%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$35.7K $35.7K

-1.44%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.0K $26.0K

-3.07%

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

$218 $218

$192 $192

13.34%

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

$76.5 $76.5

$60.2 $60.2

27.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.0 $76.0

$66.0 $66.0

15.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$128 $128

$50.7 $50.7

152.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.2 $63.2

Cinema Ticket

$23.94 $23.94

$17.77 $17.77

34.72%

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

$3,313 $3,313

$1,141 $1,141

190.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$60.8K $60.8K

$48.8K $48.8K

24.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.0 $74.0

$50.8 $50.8

45.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.3 $56.3

$38.15 $38.15

47.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$103 $103

13.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$115 $115

13.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,391 $4,391

$2,090 $2,090

110.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,088 $3,088

$2,029 $2,029

52.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,291 $9,291

$2,613 $2,613

255.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,460 $5,460

$3,011 $3,011

81.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,723 $6,723

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,364 $5,364

$4,252 $4,252

26.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.03

6.63%

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

Last update for New York, NY: August 29, 2026

Last update for Lynnwood, WA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,391 in New York, NY and $2,090 in Lynnwood, 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: $150 in New York, NY vs $102 in Lynnwood, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $512 vs $421 per month, with Lynnwood, 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 Lynnwood, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lynnwood, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 49% 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.

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: $4,391 in New York, NY versus $2,090 in Lynnwood, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,313 in New York, NY versus $1,141 in Lynnwood, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Lynnwood, WA – a meal for two runs $102 versus $150 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Lynnwood, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Lynnwood, WA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,282 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lynnwood, WA hard to pass up.

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.

Expats usually find Lynnwood, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.