Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Saratoga Springs, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Saratoga Springs, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $2,873 in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $3,969 in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $5,064 in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 24% more expensive than in Saratoga Springs, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Saratoga Springs, NY 115% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$20.17 $20.17

22.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$64.2 $64.2

85.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$8.05 $8.05

75.78%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.01 $4.01

42.39%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.15 $2.15

36.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.77 $1.77

42.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$4.98 $4.98

58.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.12 $7.12

13.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.09 $1.09

24.77%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.33 $3.33

52.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$8.51 $8.51

-38.31%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$3.74 $3.74

84.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$18.68 $18.68

33.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$23.95 $23.95

-34.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$19.78 $19.78

4.75%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$3.74 $3.74

65.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.45 $1.45

92.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.98 $3.98

38.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$7.01 $7.01

-8.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.11 $3.11

1.61%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.96 $2.96

31.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.92 $1.92

40.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.59 $1.59

59.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$12.91 $12.91

-11.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$15.07 $15.07

3.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.76 $1.76

63.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$5.35 $5.35

-20.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.43 $2.43

11.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.05 $2.05

25.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.38 $1.38

18.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$28.89 $28.89

2.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.90 $0.90

26.67%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$34.7K $34.7K

-5.32%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.1K $25.1K

5.26%

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

$264 $264

$195 $195

34.97%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$53.1 $53.1

15.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$64.7 $64.7

16.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$59.5 $59.5

31.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

$19.72 $19.72

104.26%

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$14.87 $14.87

8.34%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,392 $1,392

58.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$29.9K $29.9K

-3.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$47.18 $47.18

46.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$33.65 $33.65

59.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$85.2 $85.2

39.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$114 $114

23.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$2,494 $2,494

-5.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,585 $1,585

15.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$3,012 $3,012

55.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$2,226 $2,226

60.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$4,974 $4,974

30.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.36

0.94%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Saratoga Springs, NY: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $2,494 in Saratoga Springs, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 30% 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 $64.0 in Saratoga Springs, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $498 per month, with Saratoga Springs, 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 Saratoga Springs, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saratoga Springs, NY wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Saratoga Springs, NY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 30% 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 $2,494 in Saratoga Springs, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,873 in Saratoga Springs, NY – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Saratoga Springs, NY is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Saratoga Springs, NY delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,873 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Saratoga Springs, NY hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Saratoga Springs, 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 Saratoga Springs, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.