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: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $2,238 in Troy, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $3,448 in Troy, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $4,659 in Troy, NY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 59% more expensive than in Troy, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Troy, NY 68% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$19.31 $19.31

28.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$72.6 $72.6

63.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$11.95 $11.95

18.41%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$6.13 $6.13

-6.85%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.10 $2.10

39.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.79 $1.79

40.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$5.83 $5.83

35.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$5.93 $5.93

35.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.04 $1.04

30.77%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.33 $3.33

52.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$5.71 $5.71

-8.06%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$3.81 $3.81

81.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$14.11 $14.11

76.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$13.50 $13.50

16.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$17.33 $17.33

19.56%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$3.72 $3.72

66.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.44 $1.44

93.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.86 $3.86

43.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$4.08 $4.08

57.35%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.00 $3.00

5.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.45 $2.45

58.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.94 $1.94

39.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.58 $1.58

60.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$12.84 $12.84

-11.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$13.89 $13.89

12.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.75 $1.75

64.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.36 $3.36

26.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.32 $1.32

105.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$65.0 $65.0

52.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.07 $3.07

-15.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.36 $1.36

19.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$27.44 $27.44

8.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.92 $0.92

23.91%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$29.9K $29.9K

9.67%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.3K $25.3K

4.43%

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

$264 $264

$196 $196

34.86%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$52.7 $52.7

16.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$66.4 $66.4

13.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$43.63 $43.63

78.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$15.27 $15.27

5.50%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,389 $1,389

59.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$28.0K $28.0K

3.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$46.87 $46.87

47.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$34.34 $34.34

56.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$82.5 $82.5

44.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$104 $104

36.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,206 $1,206

95.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$911 $911

101.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$3,000 $3,000

56.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$1,791 $1,791

99.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$2,534 $2,534

197.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$2,493 $2,493

102.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$7,645 $7,645

-15.33%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Troy, NY: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $1,206 in Troy, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Troy, NY pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $73.0 in Troy, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $391 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 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 18% 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: $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,206 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 $119 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,238 in Troy, NY – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,238 in Troy, NY versus $3,565 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 59% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.