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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $2,952 in Kingston, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $4,277 in Kingston, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $5,601 in Kingston, NY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 21% more expensive than in Kingston, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Kingston, NY 121% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$17.72 $17.72

39.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$73.6 $73.6

61.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$11.61 $11.61

21.88%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.65 $5.65

1.06%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.58 $2.58

13.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.42 $2.42

4.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$8.16 $8.16

-3.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$9.41 $9.41

-14.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.96 $0.96

41.67%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.27 $4.27

18.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$6.87 $6.87

-23.58%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$5.19 $5.19

33.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$18.51 $18.51

34.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$11.79 $11.79

33.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$19.53 $19.53

6.09%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$5.22 $5.22

18.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.26 $1.26

121.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.66 $4.66

18.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$7.41 $7.41

-13.36%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.87 $2.87

10.10%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.63 $3.63

7.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.20 $2.20

22.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.08 $2.08

21.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$16.86 $16.86

-32.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$13.08 $13.08

19.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.88 $1.88

52.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.59 $3.59

18.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.96 $1.96

38.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$64.3 $64.3

53.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.44 $3.44

-25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.57 $1.57

3.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$29.01 $29.01

2.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.91 $0.91

25.27%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$31.9K $31.9K

3.04%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.9K $25.9K

1.97%

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

$264 $264

$186 $186

41.94%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$66.9 $66.9

-7.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$79.1 $79.1

-4.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$41.97 $41.97

85.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

$24.98 $24.98

61.25%

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$14.71 $14.71

9.52%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$2,547 $2,547

-13.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$23.4K $23.4K

24.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$42.93 $42.93

61.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$29.63 $29.63

81.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$73.9 $73.9

61.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$76.7 $76.7

84.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,869 $1,869

26.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,608 $1,608

14.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$3,172 $3,172

47.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$2,652 $2,652

34.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$3,127 $3,127

141.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$3,129 $3,129

61.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$3,130 $3,130

106.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

7.08

-9.32%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kingston, NY: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $1,869 in Kingston, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 107% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $74.0 in Kingston, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $455 per month, with Kingston, 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 Kingston, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kingston, NY is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 107% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,869 in Kingston, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,952 in Kingston, NY – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kingston, NY runs roughly 54% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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

For families, Kingston, 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 Kingston, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.