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: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,399 in Troy, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $3,897 in Troy, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $5,395 in Troy, NY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 60% more expensive than in Troy, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Troy, NY 75% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$18.78 $18.78

31.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$76.4 $76.4

29.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$11.82 $11.82

27.66%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$6.48 $6.48

2.16%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.61 $2.61

19.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.01 $2.01

48.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$6.91 $6.91

17.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.63 $7.63

2.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.06 $1.06

10.38%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.24 $3.24

60.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.35 $4.35

47.13%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$4.11 $4.11

19.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$10.98 $10.98

95.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$13.30 $13.30

39.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$17.67 $17.67

30.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.94 $4.94

17.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.44 $1.44

30.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.15 $5.15

4.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$4.84 $4.84

30.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.06 $3.06

24.18%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.73 $3.73

-12.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.30 $2.30

24.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.97 $1.97

37.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$14.50 $14.50

-2.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$14.08 $14.08

7.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.08 $2.08

109.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.93 $3.93

46.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.33 $1.33

130.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

$63.8 $63.8

72.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.96 $3.96

-35.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.37 $1.37

20.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$29.75 $29.75

0.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.05 $1.05

31.43%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.5K $35.5K

2.56%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

0.22%

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

$296 $296

$212 $212

39.78%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$59.5 $59.5

19.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$74.7 $74.7

17.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$43.57 $43.57

86.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$15.11 $15.11

21.31%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,522 $1,522

101.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$16.9K $16.9K

80.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$55.4 $55.4

38.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$47.94 $47.94

12.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$101 $101

26.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$120 $120

36.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,319 $1,319

83.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,028 $1,028

87.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$3,060 $3,060

55.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$2,365 $2,365

51.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,538 $2,538

191.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$2,584 $2,584

95.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$7,514 $7,514

-15.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.12

4.90%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Troy, NY: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,319 in Troy, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Troy, NY pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $76.0 in Troy, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $403 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 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 19% lower in Troy, NY. 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: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,319 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 $76.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,399 in Troy, NY – a 60% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Troy, NY is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 60% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.