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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,634 in Seattle, WA versus $2,426 in Queensbury, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,545 in Seattle, WA versus $3,455 in Queensbury, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,456 in Seattle, WA versus $4,484 in Queensbury, NY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 50% more expensive than Queensbury, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Queensbury, NY 80% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$15.81 $15.81

56.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$32.06 $32.06

269.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$7.36 $7.36

87.23%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.90 $4.90

14.49%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.52 $2.52

14.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.26 $2.26

8.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$7.05 $7.05

12.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.88 $7.88

4.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.85 $0.85

63.53%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.11 $3.11

56.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$8.58 $8.58

-39.86%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$5.74 $5.74

15.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$9.96 $9.96

151.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$10.42 $10.42

51.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$18.08 $18.08

12.39%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$6.57 $6.57

-5.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.28 $1.28

114.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$4.33 $4.33

23.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$4.77 $4.77

36.06%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$4.42 $4.42

-30.09%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$4.64 $4.64

-16.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.53 $1.53

79.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.19 $2.19

16.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$10.84 $10.84

4.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$19.88 $19.88

-22.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.82 $1.82

56.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.48 $3.48

21.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.95 $1.95

37.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$6.09 $6.09

-57.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.65 $1.65

4.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$28.89 $28.89

4.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.93 $0.93

23.66%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$29.6K $29.6K

12.40%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.96%

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

$263 $263

$149 $149

76.56%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$44.60 $44.60

34.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$56.5 $56.5

31.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$42.14 $42.14

91.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$11.08 $11.08

43.59%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,426 $1,426

60.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.3K $23.3K

27.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$37.53 $37.53

86.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$23.96 $23.96

124.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$30.06 $30.06

296.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$70.9 $70.9

101.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$1,612 $1,612

43.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,353 $1,353

35.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$2,663 $2,663

76.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$2,263 $2,263

54.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

$2,830 $2,830

188.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

$2,041 $2,041

154.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.57

-2.28%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 7, 2026

Last update for Queensbury, NY: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,312 in Seattle, WA and $1,612 in Queensbury, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $32.00 in Queensbury, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $538 vs $426 per month, with Queensbury, 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 Queensbury, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Queensbury, NY differ by about 50% in total monthly costs ($3,634 vs $2,426 including rent). Queensbury, NY is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,452 in Seattle, WA and $3,639 in Queensbury, NY to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $1,612 in Queensbury, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,634 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,426 in Queensbury, NY – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Queensbury, NY is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Queensbury, NY are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Queensbury, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.