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: $3,621 in Seattle, WA versus $2,482 in Queensbury, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,548 in Seattle, WA versus $3,499 in Queensbury, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,476 in Seattle, WA versus $4,516 in Queensbury, NY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 46% more expensive than in Queensbury, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 172% above, Queensbury, NY 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$15.88 $15.88

57.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$31.56 $31.56

274.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$7.46 $7.46

84.45%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$4.99 $4.99

17.23%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.43 $2.43

25.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.18 $2.18

9.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$7.15 $7.15

10.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$8.15 $8.15

-3.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.83 $0.83

67.47%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.12 $3.12

55.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$9.04 $9.04

-42.70%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$5.58 $5.58

19.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$9.43 $9.43

168.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$10.16 $10.16

56.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$17.88 $17.88

12.75%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$6.70 $6.70

-7.61%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.32 $1.32

118.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$4.47 $4.47

22.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$4.96 $4.96

28.63%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$4.34 $4.34

-28.80%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$4.38 $4.38

-13.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.48 $1.48

89.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.15 $2.15

21.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$11.08 $11.08

2.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$24.11 $24.11

-35.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.82 $1.82

64.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$3.62 $3.62

16.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.02 $2.02

33.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$5.89 $5.89

-54.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.58 $1.58

7.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$29.35 $29.35

0.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.88 $0.88

29.55%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$29.5K $29.5K

13.02%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.0K $26.0K

2.14%

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

$261 $261

$148 $148

76.96%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$43.99 $43.99

37.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$56.1 $56.1

35.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$42.51 $42.51

85.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$11.01 $11.01

43.69%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$1,426 $1,426

54.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.0K $23.0K

29.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$37.93 $37.93

84.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$24.39 $24.39

113.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$29.47 $29.47

297.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$69.7 $69.7

99.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$1,591 $1,591

45.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,327 $1,327

40.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$2,583 $2,583

83.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$2,222 $2,222

60.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$2,777 $2,777

175.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$2,319 $2,319

117.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Queensbury, NY: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,321 in Seattle, WA and $1,591 in Queensbury, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $32.00 in Queensbury, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $542 vs $433 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 46% in total monthly costs ($3,621 vs $2,482 including rent). Queensbury, NY is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,431 in Seattle, WA and $3,723 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: $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $1,591 in Queensbury, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,621 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,482 in Queensbury, NY – a 46% 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 46% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.