Cost of Living & Salary Comparison 2026
Yes, Seattle is 20% cheaper than New York based on our cost of living index. Seattle has a COLI of 79.5, while New York has a COLI of 100.0. 20% cheaper
Overall, Seattle is approximately 20% cheaper than New York based on our cost of living index. New York has a COLI of 100 (ranked #3 of 182 cities), while Seattle has a COLI of 79.5 (ranked #13).
When it comes to housing, one-bedroom apartment rent in New York averages $3,500/month compared to $2,200/month in Seattle. That makes Seattle approximately 37% cheaper for rent alone.
Seattle has lower total deductions (21.4%) compared to New York (33.4%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Seattle. When evaluating a relocation, remember that total deductions directly impact your take-home pay and should be weighed alongside cost of living differences.
Full breakdown of mandatory payroll deductions for a mid-range salary as a local employee in each city.
Rates shown for local employees. Expat deductions may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.
If you earn $75,000 in New York, you would need approximately $59,625 in Seattle to maintain the same purchasing power. That is 20% less thanks to lower cost of living.
Estimated mid-level annual salaries in local currency, adjusted for each city's cost of living:
| Job Title | New York (USD) | Seattle (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor (General) | $180,000 | $143,100 |
| Software Engineer | $85,000 | $67,575 |
| Product Manager | $100,000 | $79,500 |
| Lawyer | $100,000 | $79,500 |
| Data Scientist | $95,000 | $75,525 |
| Marketing Manager | $72,000 | $57,240 |
| Teacher | $48,000 | $38,160 |
| Nurse | $58,000 | $46,110 |
Salary estimates are adjusted by each city's COLI relative to the New York baseline. Actual salaries vary by company, experience, and industry.
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| SoHo / Tribeca | 1.35x (+35%) |
| Manhattan (Upper East Side) | 1.30x (+30%) |
| West Village | 1.28x (+28%) |
| Manhattan (Midtown) | 1.25x (+25%) |
| Greenwich Village | 1.25x (+25%) |
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Mercer Island | 1.25x (+25%) |
| Downtown | 1.18x (+18%) |
| Bellevue | 1.15x (+15%) |
| South Lake Union | 1.15x (+15%) |
| Capitol Hill | 1.12x (+12%) |
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Open Salary ConverterNew York is more expensive overall. New York has a COLI of 100 while Seattle has a COLI of 79.5, making Seattle approximately 20% cheaper.
To maintain the same standard of living as $75,000 in New York, you would need approximately $59,625 in Seattle.
Average one-bedroom rent in New York is $3,500/month compared to $2,200/month in Seattle. Seattle has lower rent by approximately 37%.
Seattle has lower total deductions (21.4%) compared to New York (33.4%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Seattle.
Cost of living indices (COLI) are benchmarked to New York City = 100 and derived from Numbeo and Expatistan crowd-sourced price surveys, cross-referenced with national statistics agencies. Rent data from Numbeo Property Prices.
Salary ranges are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OES), Glassdoor, and PayScale. Tax rates are approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages and national tax authorities. Exchange rates from the European Central Bank. Neighborhood multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data.
Last updated: 2026-02-28. Data is refreshed periodically. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.