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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $2,633 in Smithtown, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $3,755 in Smithtown, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $4,877 in Smithtown, NY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 47% more expensive than in Smithtown, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Smithtown, NY 92% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$19.92 $19.92

25.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$49.55 $49.55

101.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$10.18 $10.18

47.94%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$5.64 $5.64

12.94%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.14 $2.14

43.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.51 $1.51

98.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$8.07 $8.07

-3.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.91 $7.91

3.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.27 $1.27

-4.72%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$4.22 $4.22

18.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$7.39 $7.39

-13.53%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$5.79 $5.79

-11.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$12.57 $12.57

67.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$6.22 $6.22

195.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$17.19 $17.19

39.79%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$5.52 $5.52

6.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.79 $1.79

5.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$6.49 $6.49

-18.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$4.87 $4.87

32.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$5.61 $5.61

-34.40%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.90 $3.90

-13.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.77 $2.77

0.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.86 $2.86

-9.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$11.37 $11.37

22.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$24.34 $24.34

-38.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.75 $1.75

144.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$5.48 $5.48

6.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.95 $1.95

49.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.07 $3.07

-16.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.10 $2.10

-18.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$24.09 $24.09

26.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.02 $1.02

37.25%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$36.2K $36.2K

-0.42%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.3K $25.3K

0.91%

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

$299 $299

$209 $209

43.25%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$75.0 $75.0

-7.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$55.8 $55.8

57.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$46.05 $46.05

74.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$11.91 $11.91

48.61%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$2,250 $2,250

34.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$23.6K $23.6K

31.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$41.19 $41.19

87.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$56.8 $56.8

-3.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$60.9 $60.9

110.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$79.2 $79.2

101.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,579 $1,579

57.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,304 $1,304

48.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,543 $2,543

86.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$2,094 $2,094

73.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$2,674 $2,674

183.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$2,380 $2,380

114.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.22

3.70%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Smithtown, NY: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,579 in Smithtown, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $50.0 in Smithtown, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $455 per month, with Smithtown, 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 Smithtown, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Smithtown, NY is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,820 in Seattle, WA and $3,949 in Smithtown, 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,579 in Smithtown, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,020 in Seattle, WA versus $2,250 in Smithtown, NY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Smithtown, NY – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $100 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

For families, Smithtown, NY is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Smithtown, 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 Smithtown, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.