City comparison
New York vs Seattle Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between New York (166.9) and Seattle (137.2).
New York Index
166.9
Seattle Index
137.2
New York Rent
$4,850
Seattle Rent
$3,475
New York Home price
$787,000
Seattle Home price
$636,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in New York to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Seattle.
Equivalent salary in Seattle
$117,553
Based on the relative overall cost of living between New York and Seattle.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | New York | Seattle | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 245 | 184 | -61.0 (-24.9%) |
| Groceries | 138 | 118 | -20.0 (-14.5%) |
| Transportation | 121 | 113 | -8.0 (-6.6%) |
| Healthcare | 117 | 109 | -8.0 (-6.8%) |
| Utilities | 112 | 103 | -9.0 (-8.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 134 | 116 | -18.0 (-13.4%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$8,110 / $6,410
New York / Seattle
Couple
$13,620 / $10,640
New York / Seattle
Family
$19,870 / $15,000
New York / Seattle
Frequently Asked Questions
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View New York city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for New York.
View Seattle city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Seattle.
Last updated: Q1 2026
Data as of Q1 2026. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Cost of living indexes use the national average as baseline (100). Data is updated periodically.