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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,634 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,522 in Long Island, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,545 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,143 in Long Island, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,456 per month in Seattle, WA vs $6,764 in Long Island, NY, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 3% more than Long Island, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Long Island, NY sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 170%, Long Island, NY by 162%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$20.03 $20.03

23.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$98.7 $98.7

20.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$13.61 $13.61

1.25%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.90 $4.90

14.49%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.39 $2.39

20.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.76 $1.76

39.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$6.85 $6.85

16.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$8.05 $8.05

1.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.25 $1.25

11.20%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.67 $3.67

32.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.93 $4.93

4.67%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$4.90 $4.90

34.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$17.48 $17.48

43.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$11.95 $11.95

31.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$15.17 $15.17

33.95%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$4.85 $4.85

28.45%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.76 $1.76

55.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$4.05 $4.05

31.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$4.12 $4.12

57.52%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.72 $2.72

13.60%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$3.81 $3.81

1.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.23 $2.23

23.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.34 $2.34

8.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$12.03 $12.03

-5.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$14.73 $14.73

5.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.69 $1.69

68.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.08 $4.08

3.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.96 $2.96

-9.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

$127 $127

-22.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.04 $3.04

-15.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.01 $2.01

-14.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$24.09 $24.09

25.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.91 $0.91

26.37%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$24.4K $24.4K

36.24%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$24.9K $24.9K

6.40%

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

$263 $263

$128 $128

106.30%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$45.10 $45.10

33.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$61.9 $61.9

19.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$33.48 $33.48

140.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$12.76 $12.76

24.69%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$2,246 $2,246

1.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$24.0K $24.0K

24.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$40.65 $40.65

72.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$62.6 $62.6

-14.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$74.9 $74.9

59.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$130 $130

9.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$2,336 $2,336

-1.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$2,251 $2,251

-18.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$4,152 $4,152

13.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$3,595 $3,595

-2.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

$4,243 $4,243

92.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

$4,299 $4,299

20.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

$5,053 $5,053

29.90%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Long Island, NY: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $2,336 in Long Island, 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 30% 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 $119 in Seattle, WA versus $99.0 in Long Island, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $538 vs $417 – making Long Island, 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 Island, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,634 in Seattle, WA, $3,522 in Long Island, NY – roughly 3% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,452 per month in Seattle, WA and $5,282 in Long Island, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $2,281 per month in Seattle, WA and $2,246 in Long Island, NY. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% 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.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,634 in Seattle, WA and $3,522 in Long Island, 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 $3,522 in Long Island, NY to $3,634 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 Long Island, 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.