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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,893 in Ithaca, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,699 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,775 in Ithaca, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,513 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,657 in Ithaca, NY, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 34% more than Ithaca, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Ithaca, NY sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 182%, Ithaca, NY by 110%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$22.05 $22.05

15.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$80.9 $80.9

24.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$10.94 $10.94

35.28%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$5.12 $5.12

29.49%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.62 $2.62

17.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.02 $2.02

46.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$4.90 $4.90

62.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$9.23 $9.23

-14.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.98 $0.98

24.49%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.35 $3.35

53.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$5.26 $5.26

17.11%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$4.02 $4.02

26.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$14.33 $14.33

48.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$6.45 $6.45

185.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$15.41 $15.41

49.51%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.82 $4.82

25.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.65 $1.65

13.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$5.55 $5.55

-6.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$4.85 $4.85

31.34%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.20 $3.20

18.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.55 $3.55

-7.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.21 $2.21

29.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.03 $2.03

31.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$8.81 $8.81

57.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$13.90 $13.90

8.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.77 $1.77

135.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.96 $3.96

42.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.71 $1.71

73.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

$45.21 $45.21

137.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$5.08 $5.08

-49.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.37 $1.37

20.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$29.47 $29.47

0.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.05 $1.05

39.05%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

0.03%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

-0.98%

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

$306 $306

$169 $169

80.94%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$46.97 $46.97

49.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$49.10 $49.10

77.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$34.76 $34.76

129.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$10.93 $10.93

63.31%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,523 $1,523

98.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$16.8K $16.8K

85.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$47.26 $47.26

62.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$39.97 $39.97

34.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$79.9 $79.9

57.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$109 $109

49.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$2,142 $2,142

14.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,686 $1,686

17.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,655 $2,655

83.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$1,898 $1,898

91.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$2,132 $2,132

246.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$2,146 $2,146

133.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$3,385 $3,385

82.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.12

5.39%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ithaca, NY: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $2,142 in Ithaca, NY. 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 82% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Seattle, WA versus $81.0 in Ithaca, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $551 vs $377 – making Ithaca, NY 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,886 in Seattle, WA, $2,893 in Ithaca, NY – roughly 34% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,829 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,339 in Ithaca, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Seattle, WA and $81.0 in Ithaca, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,886 in Seattle, WA and $2,893 in Ithaca, NY. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,886 in Seattle, WA and $2,893 in Ithaca, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,893 in Ithaca, NY to $3,886 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Ithaca, NY. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.