Cost of Living: New York vs Washington (2026)

Q: "Is New York or Washington more expensive?"

"New York is more expensive. Its cost-of-living index is 113 vs 109 — a 3% difference. Your money goes further in Washington."

Q: "How much is $100,000 in New York worth in Washington?"

"About $96,732 — that's what you'd need in Washington to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in New York."

Washington is about 3% less expensive than New York overall — $100,000 in New York is worth about $96,732 in Washington.

New York vs Washington: the numbers

Metric	New York	Washington	Difference
Cost-of-living index (US=100)	113	109	-3%
Median rent	$1,779	$1,900	+7%
Median home value	$751,700	$724,600	-4%
Median household income	$79,713	$106,287	+33%

Cost of living = BEA Regional Price Parities (US average = 100). Rent, home value, and income from the U.S. Census ACS. See our methodology.

What your salary is worth

A $100,000 salary in New York has the same buying power as about $96,732 in Washington. Going the other way, $100,000 in Washington is like $103,379 in New York.

Use the calculator below to compare any salary between New York and Washington.

Compare any salary: New York vs Washington

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is New York or Washington more expensive?

New York is more expensive. Its cost-of-living index is 113 vs 109 — a 3% difference. Your money goes further in Washington.

How much is $100,000 in New York worth in Washington?

About $96,732 — that's what you'd need in Washington to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in New York.