Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Long Beach, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Long Beach, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,583 in Long Beach, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,699 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,787 in Long Beach, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,513 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,991 in Long Beach, NY, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 50% more than Long Beach, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Long Beach, NY sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 182%, Long Beach, NY by 87%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$79.5 $79.5

27.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$10.97 $10.97

34.91%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$5.38 $5.38

23.23%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.55 $2.55

20.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.53 $1.53

93.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$8.01 $8.01

-0.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.79 $7.79

1.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.25 $1.25

-2.40%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.71 $3.71

38.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$6.14 $6.14

0.33%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$6.95 $6.95

-26.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$13.39 $13.39

59.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$11.80 $11.80

56.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$17.30 $17.30

33.18%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.46 $5.46

10.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.72 $1.72

9.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.34 $4.34

19.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$4.82 $4.82

32.16%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.04 $3.04

24.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.08 $3.08

7.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.78 $2.78

3.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.80 $2.80

-5.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$11.44 $11.44

21.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$15.21 $15.21

-1.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.69 $1.69

146.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.54 $3.54

59.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.01 $2.01

47.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.03 $3.03

-15.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.01 $2.01

-17.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$23.56 $23.56

25.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.04 $1.04

40.38%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$35.2K $35.2K

2.35%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

0.27%

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

$306 $306

$175 $175

75.34%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$49.88 $49.88

40.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$49.60 $49.60

76.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$40.32 $40.32

98.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$14.26 $14.26

25.18%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,996 $1,996

51.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$15.9K $15.9K

95.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$41.72 $41.72

83.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$58.5 $58.5

-7.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$77.2 $77.2

62.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$102 $102

59.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,563 $1,563

57.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,317 $1,317

50.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,363 $2,363

106.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$2,220 $2,220

63.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$2,523 $2,523

192.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$2,595 $2,595

92.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.17

4.54%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Long Beach, NY: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $1,563 in Long Beach, NY. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Seattle, WA versus $79.0 in Long Beach, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $551 vs $438 – making Long Beach, 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 Long Beach, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 50% more than Long Beach, NY, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,829 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,875 in Long Beach, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Long Beach, 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 $79.0 in Long Beach, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,886 in Seattle, WA and $2,583 in Long Beach, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Long Beach, NY costs $2,583 versus $3,886 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Long Beach, 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.