City Comparison
Seattle vs New York City
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Seattle scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Seattle
New York City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Seattle is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
27% lower than in New York City.
Housing costs are a major driver: Seattle's average rent is
33% lower than New York City's.
| Metric | Seattle | New York City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,250 | $3,382 | -33% |
| Groceries | $520 | $520 | 0% |
| Utilities | $210 | $370 | -43% |
| Transport | $140 | $130 | +8% |
| Healthcare | $290 | $250 | +16% |
| Monthly Total | $3,410 | $4,652 | -27% |
| Cost Index | 152 | 178 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
New York City offers 3% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Seattle delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Seattle is estimated at
$82,000 vs $61,000 in New York City.
| Metric | Seattle | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $98,000 | $100,877 |
| Salary Needed | $82,000 | $61,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 64,474 idx | 56,672 idx |
| Household Income | $115,000 | $80,483 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Seattle runs warmer on average — a 54.4°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Seattle comes out ahead with 238 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Seattle sees 8.8 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Seattle | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 54.40°F | °F |
| Summer High | 76.10°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 38.10°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 40.80 in | in |
| Snowfall | 8.80 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 238 | |
| Humidity | 74.00% | 63.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Seattle has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
7,500 minutes (125 hours) per year compared to New York City.
New York City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, New York City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Seattle | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 43 min |
| Transit Score | 70.0/100 | 88.0/100 |
| Walkability | 73.0/100 | 89.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 62.00 | 167.60 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Low |
Population
Economy & Demographics
New York City is the larger city
— approximately 0.1x the population of Seattle.
From a growth perspective, Seattle is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Seattle has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Seattle | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 783,155 | 8,585,000 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.90% | — |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 38.2 |
| Unemployment | 3.80% | 4.90% |
| GDP | — | $1,354.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Seattle
Advantages
Thriving job market anchored by global tech, aerospace, and biotech leaders
Unmatched access to outdoor recreation including mountains, forests, and marine waters
High median household income well above the national average
Vibrant culinary, coffee, and craft beverage culture
Progressive, highly educated, and culturally active community
Drawbacks
Significantly higher cost of living and housing expenses compared to the U.S. average
Frequent overcast skies and high annual rainfall during the winter months
Persistent traffic congestion during peak commuting hours
Urban property crime and public safety challenges in specific downtown sectors
High barrier to entry for prospective first-time home buyers
New York City
Advantages
New York City is the most linguistically diverse city globally, with an estimated 800 languages spoken.
The city boasts a world-class public transportation system, with a transit score of 88 and a walkability score of 89.
New York City's private sector employment reached a record high of 4.25 million jobs in December 2024.
Overall index crime in New York City saw a nearly 3% reduction in 2024, marking the second consecutive year of declines.
New York City is a global hub for finance, media, tech, healthcare, and tourism, offering unparalleled opportunities.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in New York City is 78% higher than the national average, making it one of the most expensive cities globally.
Median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Manhattan reached $4,595 in April 2024.
The city experienced a population decline of 12,000 residents between June 2024 and July 2025.
New York City has a high traffic index of 167.6 and an average commute time of 43.34 minutes.
Housing affordability has reached a crisis due to high costs and a slow pace of new housing construction.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Seattle
#513Washington, USA
51.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,250
Avg Salary
$98,000
Cost Index
152
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
70.0/100
Walkability
73.0/100
Sunny Days
238/yr
Avg Temp
54.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
84
Business
85
New York City
#584New York, USA
45.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$3,382
Avg Salary
$100,877
Cost Index
178
Commute
43 min
Transit Score
88.0/100
Walkability
89.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.90%
Livability
70
Business
62
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