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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $2,608 in Brookhaven, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $3,895 in Brookhaven, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $5,182 in Brookhaven, NY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 40% more expensive than Brookhaven, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Brookhaven, NY 95% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$19.99 $19.99

26.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$100 $100

20.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$13.87 $13.87

1.73%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$5.45 $5.45

6.79%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.35 $2.35

26.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.88 $1.88

27.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$6.80 $6.80

13.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$8.84 $8.84

-10.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.28 $1.28

4.69%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.66 $3.66

34.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.28 $5.28

-2.65%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$4.74 $4.74

38.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$21.78 $21.78

13.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$11.71 $11.71

35.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$17.07 $17.07

17.98%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$4.98 $4.98

25.90%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.74 $1.74

64.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$3.97 $3.97

33.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.10 $4.10

55.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.78 $2.78

15.47%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$3.89 $3.89

-1.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.37 $2.37

15.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.68 $2.68

-3.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$11.88 $11.88

-2.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$15.09 $15.09

4.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.76 $1.76

63.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$5.86 $5.86

-25.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.04 $2.04

35.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.96 $2.96

-9.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.02 $2.02

-15.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$23.73 $23.73

25.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.85 $0.85

34.12%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$35.4K $35.4K

-7.04%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.8K $25.8K

0.53%

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

$268 $268

$123 $123

117.34%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$44.21 $44.21

37.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$66.1 $66.1

15.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$42.97 $42.97

81.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$16.96 $16.96

-6.72%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$2,259 $2,259

-0.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.3K $23.3K

27.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$73.8 $73.8

-4.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$64.1 $64.1

-17.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$76.1 $76.1

53.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$136 $136

1.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,604 $1,604

43.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,375 $1,375

34.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,618 $2,618

80.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,197 $2,197

61.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,679 $2,679

190.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,322 $2,322

130.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.62

-3.02%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Brookhaven, NY: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $1,604 in Brookhaven, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $100 in Brookhaven, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $445 per month, with Brookhaven, 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 Brookhaven, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brookhaven, NY is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,491 in Seattle, WA and $3,913 in Brookhaven, NY to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,604 in Brookhaven, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,608 in Brookhaven, NY – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Brookhaven, 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.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Brookhaven, NY 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 Brookhaven, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.