Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and University Place, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and University Place, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,841 per month in New York, NY vs $2,737 in University Place, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,287 per month in New York, NY vs $4,118 in University Place, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,734 per month in New York, NY vs $5,499 in University Place, WA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 77% more than University Place, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both New York, NY and University Place, WA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 254%, University Place, WA by 100%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.33 $25.33

$22.47 $22.47

12.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$122 $122

16.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$11.96 $11.96

15.22%

Cappuccino

$6.19 $6.19

$6.08 $6.08

1.81%

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

$3.69 $3.69

$3.25 $3.25

13.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.65 $2.65

11.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$7.99 $7.99

-2.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$12.15 $12.15

-16.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.04 $1.04

33.65%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.02 $4.02

14.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$2.84 $2.84

144.37%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$5.31 $5.31

9.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$14.80 $14.80

17.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$22.23 $22.23

-32.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.02 $18.02

$23.30 $23.30

-22.66%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$5.44 $5.44

15.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.69 $1.69

26.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$5.51 $5.51

5.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$4.31 $4.31

45.71%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.75 $2.75

23.27%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$2.91 $2.91

46.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.99 $1.99

39.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.94 $2.94

-12.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$11.84 $11.84

57.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 $20.30

$18.27 $18.27

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.72 $1.72

83.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$3.62 $3.62

11.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.72 $1.72

72.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.66 $2.66

16.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.70 $1.70

25.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

$29.57 $29.57

40.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.39 $1.39

-18.71%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$36.4K $36.4K

-2.79%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.1K $26.1K

-1.94%

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

$236 $236

$158 $158

49.42%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$53.0 $53.0

39.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$85.6 $85.6

-15.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$41.55 $41.55

201.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.1 $63.1

Cinema Ticket

$23.37 $23.37

$19.29 $19.29

21.15%

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

$3,353 $3,353

$1,924 $1,924

74.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.0K $61.0K

$31.6K $31.6K

93.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$61.0 $61.0

18.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$37.12 $37.12

40.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$101 $101

15.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$114 $114

8.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,438 $4,438

$1,564 $1,564

183.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,045 $3,045

$1,299 $1,299

134.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,088 $9,088

$2,531 $2,531

259.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,404 $5,404

$2,106 $2,106

156.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K $18.8K

$3,021 $3,021

522.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 $6,500

$2,249 $2,249

189.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,258 $5,258

$8,023 $8,023

-34.46%

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 University Place, WA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,438 in New York, NY versus $1,564 in University Place, 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 53% higher in University Place, 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 $142 in New York, NY versus $122 in University Place, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $516 vs $499 – making University Place, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 University Place, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 77% more than University Place, WA, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,261 per month in New York, NY and $4,106 in University Place, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in University Place, WA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,841 in New York, NY and $2,737 in University Place, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,353 per month in New York, NY and $1,924 in University Place, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,841 in New York, NY and $2,737 in University Place, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. University Place, WA costs $2,737 versus $4,841 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with University Place, WA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.