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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,681 in Albany, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $4,205 in Albany, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,728 in Albany, NY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 34% more expensive than Albany, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Albany, NY 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$19.32 $19.32

28.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$78.5 $78.5

49.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$12.81 $12.81

7.49%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$6.13 $6.13

-6.85%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.77 $2.77

10.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.98 $1.98

26.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.06 $5.06

54.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.16 $6.16

27.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.05 $1.05

28.57%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.91 $3.91

29.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.52 $5.52

-2.36%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$5.27 $5.27

29.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$14.13 $14.13

77.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$14.16 $14.16

11.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$17.48 $17.48

17.79%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.71 $4.71

30.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.46 $1.46

93.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.82 $4.82

14.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$5.01 $5.01

34.53%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.94 $2.94

7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.40 $3.40

12.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.19 $3.19

-15.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.82 $1.82

45.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$14.47 $14.47

-19.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$14.22 $14.22

10.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.22 $2.22

31.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.07 $4.07

4.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.48 $1.48

90.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$65.0 $65.0

54.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.95 $4.95

-47.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.42 $1.42

21.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$27.20 $27.20

11.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.99 $0.99

20.20%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$30.0K $30.0K

8.87%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.3K $25.3K

3.12%

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

$263 $263

$211 $211

24.39%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$56.9 $56.9

6.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$76.0 $76.0

-0.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$31.01 $31.01

156.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$22.06 $22.06

80.83%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$15.23 $15.23

6.83%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,399 $1,399

63.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$28.4K $28.4K

3.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$52.8 $52.8

30.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$46.49 $46.49

11.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$83.6 $83.6

38.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$102 $102

40.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,433 $1,433

62.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,267 $1,267

47.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,955 $2,955

56.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,586 $2,586

34.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,416 $2,416

221.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,495 $2,495

109.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,169 $4,169

58.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.45

-0.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Albany, NY: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,433 in Albany, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 59% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $79.0 in Albany, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $433 per month, with Albany, NY 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

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

Albany, NY wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Albany, NY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Seattle, WA pays 59% more on average, 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,433 in Albany, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Albany, NY – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,681 in Albany, NY – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Albany, NY 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 Albany, NY delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,681 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Albany, NY hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Albany, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.