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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,673 in Islip, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $4,070 in Islip, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,466 in Islip, NY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 35% more expensive than Islip, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Islip, NY 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$25.44 $25.44

-2.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$111 $111

5.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$12.51 $12.51

10.07%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.73 $4.73

20.72%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.74 $2.74

11.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.72 $1.72

45.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$7.35 $7.35

6.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.97 $7.97

-1.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.21 $1.21

11.57%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.79 $4.79

5.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.88 $4.88

10.45%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$5.28 $5.28

29.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$17.49 $17.49

43.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$16.21 $16.21

-2.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$15.73 $15.73

30.90%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$6.59 $6.59

-6.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.40 $2.40

17.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$2.22 $2.22

148.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$6.41 $6.41

5.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.73 $2.73

15.38%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$4.05 $4.05

-5.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.56 $1.56

72.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.26 $2.26

16.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$14.93 $14.93

-21.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$12.78 $12.78

22.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.27 $2.27

29.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.87 $3.87

9.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.94 $1.94

45.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.91 $3.91

-33.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.07 $2.07

-16.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$42.15 $42.15

-28.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.92 $0.92

29.35%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$24.0K $24.0K

36.33%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$27.6K $27.6K

-5.49%

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

$263 $263

$182 $182

44.21%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$58.7 $58.7

3.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$63.3 $63.3

19.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$42.36 $42.36

87.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$16.05 $16.05

1.37%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$3,213 $3,213

-29.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$23.7K $23.7K

23.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$45.14 $45.14

51.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$27.94 $27.94

85.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$90.9 $90.9

27.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$133 $133

7.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,960 $1,960

19.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,338 $1,338

39.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,628 $2,628

76.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,234 $2,234

55.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,921 $3,921

68.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.44

-0.31%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Islip, NY: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,960 in Islip, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 69% 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 $111 in Islip, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $464 per month, with Islip, 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 Islip, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Islip, NY is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 69% 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 $1,960 in Islip, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $3,213 in Islip, NY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Islip, NY – a meal for two runs $111 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

For families, Islip, 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 Islip, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.