Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Queens, NY and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Queens, NY: $3,339 a month against $3,782 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $5,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

160

Cost of Living Index in Queens, NY
Learn more

Queens, NY Living Index
184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
Learn more

Seattle, WA Living Index

Jump to prices

Queens, NY

🇺🇸 United States

$3,339

/mo nomad

Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,782

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Queens, NY and in Seattle, WA

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,339 in Queens, NY versus $3,782 in Seattle, WA.

Queens, NY $3,339
Seattle, WA $3,782

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,831 in Queens, NY versus $5,636 in Seattle, WA.

Queens, NY $4,831
Seattle, WA $5,636

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,323 in Queens, NY versus $7,489 in Seattle, WA.

Queens, NY $6,323
Seattle, WA $7,489

Living in Queens, NY costs roughly 12% less than in Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Queens, NY 146% above, Seattle, WA 179% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.16 $19.16

$24.52 $24.52

-21.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.1 $80.1

$98.2 $98.2

-18.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.04 $13.04

$14.79 $14.79

-11.83%

Cappuccino

$6.18 $6.18

$6.52 $6.52

-5.21%

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

$2.53 $2.53

$3.23 $3.23

-21.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

$3.17 $3.17

-53.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.25 $9.25

$7.85 $7.85

17.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.93 $6.93

$8.03 $8.03

-13.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.21 $1.21

4.96%

White Bread (500g)

$4.36 $4.36

$5.14 $5.14

-15.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$6.05 $6.05

-0.50%

Eggs

$6.88 $6.88

$4.88 $4.88

40.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.73 $13.73

$19.18 $19.18

-28.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.31 $10.31

$18.91 $18.91

-45.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.51 $19.51

$23.31 $23.31

-16.30%

Apples (1kg)

$5.99 $5.99

Banana (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$1.93 $1.93

80.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$5.25 $5.25

-16.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$6.57 $6.57

-20.70%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 $3.02

$3.62 $3.62

-16.57%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.31 $3.31

-7.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.78 $2.78

11.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.51 $2.51

23.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.63 $14.63

$12.18 $12.18

20.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.84 $14.84

$14.83 $14.83

0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$4.22 $4.22

-56.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$5.77 $5.77

-39.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.95 $2.95

-0.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

$106 $106

22.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.65 $2.65

11.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.72 $1.72

29.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.49 $41.49

$29.72 $29.72

39.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.49 $1.49

-26.85%

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

$27.9K $27.9K

$35.9K $35.9K

-22.41%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.70%

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

$175 $175

$302 $302

-42.09%

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

$49.84 $49.84

$70.1 $70.1

-28.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.7 $50.7

$85.3 $85.3

-40.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.68 $45.68

$77.8 $77.8

-41.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$67.6 $67.6

$34.58 $34.58

95.55%

Cinema Ticket

$20.43 $20.43

$17.84 $17.84

14.52%

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

$1,979 $1,979

$2,973 $2,973

-33.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K $16.2K

$31.3K $31.3K

-48.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.52 $49.52

$76.6 $76.6

-35.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$81.0 $81.0

$54.1 $54.1

49.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 $85.7

$128 $128

-33.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$164 $164

-36.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,272 $2,272

$2,445 $2,445

-7.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,947 $1,947

-3.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,863 $5,863

$4,744 $4,744

23.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,964 $2,964

$3,469 $3,469

-14.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,775 $8,775

$7,367 $7,367

19.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,134 $6,134

$5,127 $5,127

19.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,625 $3,625

$6,506 $6,506

-44.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.8

6.89

-1.31%

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

Last update for Queens, NY: October 19, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Queens, NY

$1.9K 56%

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.5% 4.1% $77

Groceries & Markets

Queens, NY

$464 13.9%

Seattle, WA

$546 14.4% 17.5% $81

Eating Out

Queens, NY

$343 10.3%

Seattle, WA

$400 10.6% 16.6% $57

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Queens, NY

$275 8.3%

Seattle, WA

$457 12.1% 66.1% $182

Getting Around

Queens, NY

$156 4.7%

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4% 17.3% $27

Clothing & Footwear

Queens, NY

$144 4.3%

Seattle, WA

$190 5% 32.2% $46

Sport & Entertainment

Queens, NY

$87 2.6%

Seattle, WA

$114 3% 31.1% $27

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,272 in Queens, NY and $2,445 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 80% 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: $80.0 in Queens, NY vs $98.0 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $464 vs $546 per month, with Queens, NY cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Queens, NY

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🕒 Local time

06:19 6:19 AM

03:19 3:19 AM

3 h behind Queens, NY

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,405,464

737,015

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Queens, NY Seattle, WA 3,880 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Queens, NY
Seattle, 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

Queens, NY vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Queens, NY is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 80% lower in Seattle, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,272 in Queens, NY versus $2,445 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Queens, NY – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $98.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,339 per month in Queens, NY versus $3,782 in Seattle, WA – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Queens, NY is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Queens, NY is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Queens, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.