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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,156 in Troy, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,398 in Troy, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $4,641 in Troy, NY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 67% more expensive than Troy, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Troy, NY 61% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$19.29 $19.29

28.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$72.5 $72.5

62.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$11.77 $11.77

16.99%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.84 $5.84

-2.23%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.11 $2.11

44.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.70 $1.70

47.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.14 $6.14

27.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.06 $6.06

30.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.05 $1.05

28.57%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.47 $3.47

45.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.49 $5.49

-1.82%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.78 $3.78

81.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$14.17 $14.17

76.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$13.91 $13.91

13.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$17.40 $17.40

18.33%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$3.85 $3.85

59.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.39 $1.39

102.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$3.82 $3.82

44.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$3.92 $3.92

71.94%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.95 $2.95

6.78%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.55 $2.55

49.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.95 $1.95

37.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.64 $1.64

60.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$12.98 $12.98

-10.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$13.75 $13.75

14.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.70 $1.70

72.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.39 $3.39

25.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.33 $1.33

112.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$65.7 $65.7

52.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.95 $2.95

-11.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.43 $1.43

20.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$27.70 $27.70

9.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.90 $0.90

32.22%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$30.3K $30.3K

7.99%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.72%

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

$263 $263

$191 $191

37.61%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$53.6 $53.6

13.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$66.0 $66.0

14.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$44.85 $44.85

77.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$14.87 $14.87

9.41%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,424 $1,424

60.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$27.7K $27.7K

5.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$48.24 $48.24

42.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$34.17 $34.17

52.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$82.6 $82.6

40.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$102 $102

41.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,185 $1,185

97.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$910 $910

104.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$3,033 $3,033

52.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$1,815 $1,815

91.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,523 $2,523

207.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,569 $2,569

103.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$7,748 $7,748

-14.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.45

-0.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Troy, NY: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,185 in Troy, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Troy, NY pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $73.0 in Troy, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $393 per month, with Troy, 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 Troy, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Troy, NY is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 67% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Troy, NY earns 17% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,185 in Troy, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Troy, NY – a meal for two runs $73.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,156 in Troy, NY – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,156 in Troy, NY versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Troy, NY but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Troy, NY the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Troy, 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.

Expats usually find Troy, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.