Seattle vs New York: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison

Seattle's typical home is worth $879,900, 20% higher than the typical home in New York at $732,100.

Median household income is $116,068 in Seattle versus $76,607 in New York.

Typical rent runs $1,945 in Seattle and $1,714 in New York.

Between the two, Seattle carries the higher-rated hazard risk — FEMA puts it at Very High, versus Relatively High for New York.

Metric	Seattle, WA	New York, NY
Population	734,603	8,622,467
Median home value	$879,900	$732,100
Median household income	$116,068	$76,607
Median gross rent	$1,945	$1,714
Climate risk (FEMA)	Very High	Relatively High

Both home values and rent run lower in New York, NY than in Seattle, WA, making it the more affordable of the two on housing alone.

Moving between Seattle and New York

Seattle and New York are 2,407 miles apart in a straight line.

What changes when you move	Seattle → New York	New York → Seattle
Median rent	−$231/mo (−12%)	+$231/mo (+13%)
Median home value	−$147,800 (−17%)	+$147,800 (+20%)
Median household income	−$39,461 (−34%)	+$39,461 (+52%)

Estimated moving cost (either direction)

Home size	Estimated cost
Studio / 1-bedroom	$2,789 – $4,478
2-3 bedroom	$5,914 – $9,424
4+ bedroom house	$9,545 – $15,158

Estimates based on typical per-mile and per-room moving-industry rates; actual quotes vary by mover, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Seattle, WA New York, NY

2,769 miles estimated driving distance · 46.2 hours of highway driving

DIY Truck Rental

$3,384 – $4,306

Includes an estimated $969 in fuel (277 gal at ~10 mpg) over 5 driving days.

Professional Movers

$12,149 – $22,893

Full-service crew, loading and unloading included.

Estimates based on typical rental-truck, fuel, and professional-mover industry rates; actual quotes vary by carrier, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey; FEMA National Risk Index

Data last updated July 2026.