Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Moses Lake, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Moses Lake, WA: $2,396 a month against $4,941 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $30,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New York, NY, United States
Moses Lake, WA, United States
New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,941
/mo nomad
Moses Lake, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,396
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New York, NY and in Moses Lake, 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 Moses Lake, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,941 per month in New York, NY vs $2,396 in Moses Lake, WA, rent included.

  • New York, NY $4,941
  • Moses Lake, WA $2,396

A couple spends around $7,225 per month in New York, NY vs $3,595 in Moses Lake, WA, rent included.

  • New York, NY $7,225
  • Moses Lake, WA $3,595

A family of three spends $9,509 per month in New York, NY vs $4,795 in Moses Lake, WA, rent included.

  • New York, NY $9,509
  • Moses Lake, WA $4,795

New York, NY costs about 106% more than Moses Lake, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both New York, NY and Moses Lake, WA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 263%, Moses Lake, WA by 76%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Moses Lake, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.55 $28.55
$18.18 $18.18
57.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$79.9 $79.9
48.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.04 $15.04
$12.28 $12.28
22.48%
Cappuccino
$6.53 $6.53
$4.38 $4.38
49.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 $3.96
$2.94 $2.94
34.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.56 $2.56
17.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.16 $8.16
$4.61 $4.61
77.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.84 $9.84
$8.16 $8.16
20.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Moses Lake, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 $1.37
$0.74 $0.74
85.14%
White Bread (500g)
$4.97 $4.97
$3.83 $3.83
29.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.81 $7.81
$4.08 $4.08
91.42%
Eggs
$5.97 $5.97
$3.50 $3.50
70.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.91 $18.91
$9.10 $9.10
107.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.04 $18.04
$11.08 $11.08
62.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.05 $19.05
$13.45 $13.45
41.64%
Apples (1kg)
$6.76 $6.76
$5.91 $5.91
14.38%
Banana (1kg)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.62 $1.62
40.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.83 $6.83
$5.36 $5.36
27.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.09 $7.09
$5.62 $5.62
26.16%
Potato (1kg)
$4.22 $4.22
$3.49 $3.49
20.92%
Onion (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$3.25 $3.25
43.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.91 $2.91
-1.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.60 $2.60
$2.17 $2.17
19.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.77 $18.77
$11.66 $11.66
60.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.13 $20.13
$14.83 $14.83
35.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.45 $3.45
$1.79 $1.79
92.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02 $4.02
$4.20 $4.20
-4.29%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Moses Lake, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.99 $1.99
46.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$139 $139
$67.0 $67.0
107.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.48 $2.48
24.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.12 $2.12
$1.58 $1.58
34.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.96 $41.96
$30.13 $30.13
39.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.16 $1.16
0.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K $34.5K
$31.5K $31.5K
9.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$25.9K $25.9K
-0.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Moses Lake, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$154 $154
42.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$74.2 $74.2
$70.1 $70.1
5.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.2 $70.2
$75.7 $75.7
-7.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Moses Lake, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$112 $112
$41.80 $41.80
167.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$74.9 $74.9
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.14 $22.14
$11.65 $11.65
90.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Moses Lake, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,558 $3,558
$1,113 $1,113
219.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$62.2K $62.2K
$31.1K $31.1K
100.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Moses Lake, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.6 $75.6
$52.7 $52.7
43.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.2 $51.2
$25.09 $25.09
104.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 $123
$46.61 $46.61
164.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 $140
$81.4 $81.4
71.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Moses Lake, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,499 $4,499
$1,505 $1,505
198.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,078 $3,078
$1,167 $1,167
163.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$9,447 $9,447
$2,244 $2,244
320.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,190 $5,190
$2,029 $2,029
155.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$18.1K $18.1K
$2,621 $2,621
590.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,693 $6,693
$2,840 $2,840
135.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Moses Lake, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,220 $5,220
$9,063 $9,063
-42.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.86
6.89
-0.44%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 26, 2026

Last update for Moses Lake, WA: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3.1K
Moses Lake, WA
$1.2K 62.1% $1.9K
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$563
Moses Lake, WA
$390 30.8% $173
Eating Out
New York, NY
$440
Moses Lake, WA
$296 32.7% $144
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$364
Moses Lake, WA
$300 17.5% $64
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$175
Moses Lake, WA
$93 47.2% $83
Getting Around
New York, NY
$164
Moses Lake, WA
$85 48.1% $79
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$156
Moses Lake, WA
$65 58.3% $91

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,499 in New York, NY versus $1,505 in Moses Lake, 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 74% higher in Moses Lake, WA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in New York, NY versus $80 in Moses Lake, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $563 vs $390 – making Moses Lake, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇺🇸 Moses Lake, WA
🕒 Local time
22:55 10:55 PM
19:55 7:55 PM
3 h behind New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
25,146
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 30, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.897 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New York, NY Moses Lake, WA 3,630 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • New York, NY
  • Moses Lake, 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 Moses Lake, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, New York, NY or Moses Lake, WA?
New York, NY costs about 106% more than Moses Lake, WA, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in New York, NY and in Moses Lake, WA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,412 per month in New York, NY and $3,594 in Moses Lake, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, New York, NY or Moses Lake, WA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Moses Lake, WA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,505 there versus $4,499 in New York, NY.
How do childcare costs compare in New York, NY and in Moses Lake, WA?
Kindergarten costs $3,558 per month in New York, NY and $1,113 in Moses Lake, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in New York, NY or in Moses Lake, WA?
Groceries cost about 45% more in New York, NY, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $2,000/month in New York, NY or in Moses Lake, WA?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,941 in New York, NY and $2,396 in Moses Lake, WA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Moses Lake, WA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Moses Lake, WA is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 52% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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