Moving from New York, NY-NJ to Seattle, WA
About 5,210 people made this move in a typical year (Census Bureau metro-to-metro migration flows, ACS 5-year 2016-2020). Here is what the move does to two households’ budgets after 2026 taxes — and the salary each needs in Seattle, WA.
Single, $70k: line by line
Single adult earning $70,000, renting. Same gross pay in both places; renting at HUD Fair Market Rent (1 bedroom). Taxes take 25.3% of income in New York, NY-NJ and 18.4% in Seattle, WA.
New York, NY-NJ Seattle, WA (monthly)
| Monthly | New York, NY-NJ | Seattle, WA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,833 | $5,833 | $0 |
| Taxes | $1,477 | $1,075 | −$402 |
| Federal income tax2026 tax law | $548 | $548 | $0 |
| Social Security + Medicare2026 tax law | $446 | $446 | $0 |
| State income tax2026 tax law · no state tax on wages | $265 | $0 | −$265 |
| State Disability Insurance (SDI)2026 tax law | $3 | $0 | −$3 |
| Paid Family Leave (PFL)2026 tax law | $25 | $0 | −$25 |
| Local income tax2026 tax law · Mandatory local income tax for residents of New York City. | $190 | $0 | −$190 |
| Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) – employee share2026 tax law | $0 | $47 | +$47 |
| WA Cares Fund (long-term care) – employee2026 tax law | $0 | $34 | +$34 |
| Take-home pay | $4,357 | $4,759 | +$402 |
| Housing | $2,729 | $2,180 | −$549 |
| Rent, 1-bedroomHUD FMR FY2027 · 40th-percentile gross rent, includes tenant-paid utilities | $2,729 | $2,180 | −$549 |
| Food | $486 | $458 | −$28 |
| Food at home (USDA Moderate-Cost plan)USDA food plans August 2026 · US cost × RPP goods 104.0 | $486 | $458 | −$28 |
| Transportation | $175 | $217 | +$42 |
| GasolineEIA electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05 · 12,000 mi ÷ 25 mpg × $5.42/gal (WA weekly average) | $175 | $217 | +$42 |
| Sales tax | $22 | $34 | +$12 |
| State sales taxState revenue dept. 2026-10-13 · 6.5% on other goods; groceries exempt — local add-ons not modeled | $22 | $34 | +$12 |
| Other goods & services | $1,080 | $1,054 | −$26 |
| Other goods (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP goods 104.0 | $551 | $520 | −$31 |
| Other services (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP other services 106.8 | $529 | $534 | +$5 |
| Left over after modeled costs | −$136 | $816 | +$952 |
Family of four, $120k: line by line
Two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child, $120,000 combined, renting. Same gross pay in both places; renting at HUD Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms), center-based childcare in current dollars. Taxes take 20.3% of income in New York, NY-NJ and 13.7% in Seattle, WA.
New York, NY-NJ Seattle, WA (monthly)
| Monthly | New York, NY-NJ | Seattle, WA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $10,000 | $10,000 | $0 |
| Taxes | $2,032 | $1,374 | −$658 |
| Federal income tax2026 tax law · after $4,400 Child Tax Credit | $470 | $470 | $0 |
| Social Security + Medicare2026 tax law | $765 | $765 | $0 |
| State income tax2026 tax law · no state tax on wages | $438 | $0 | −$438 |
| State Disability Insurance (SDI)2026 tax law | $5 | $0 | −$5 |
| Paid Family Leave (PFL)2026 tax law | $43 | $0 | −$43 |
| Local income tax2026 tax law · Mandatory local income tax for residents of New York City. | $311 | $0 | −$311 |
| Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) – employee share2026 tax law | $0 | $81 | +$81 |
| WA Cares Fund (long-term care) – employee2026 tax law | $0 | $58 | +$58 |
| Take-home pay | $7,968 | $8,626 | +$658 |
| Housing | $2,971 | $2,549 | −$422 |
| Rent, 2-bedroomHUD FMR FY2027 · 40th-percentile gross rent, includes tenant-paid utilities | $2,971 | $2,549 | −$422 |
| Childcare | $2,564 | $3,594 | +$1,031 |
| Childcare, center-basedDOL NDCP 2022 · preschool $390/wk, school-age $289/wk (2022 prices, King County, WA); × 1.2224 BLS CPI day care, 2022 to 2026-08 | $2,564 | $3,594 | +$1,031 |
| Food | $1,414 | $1,334 | −$81 |
| Food at home (USDA Moderate-Cost plan)USDA food plans August 2026 · US cost × RPP goods 104.0 | $1,414 | $1,334 | −$81 |
| Transportation | $350 | $434 | +$84 |
| GasolineEIA electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05 · 24,000 mi ÷ 25 mpg × $5.42/gal (WA weekly average) | $350 | $434 | +$84 |
| Sales tax | $22 | $34 | +$12 |
| State sales taxState revenue dept. 2026-10-13 · 6.5% on other goods; groceries exempt — local add-ons not modeled | $22 | $34 | +$12 |
| Other goods & services | $1,080 | $1,054 | −$26 |
| Other goods (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP goods 104.0 | $551 | $520 | −$31 |
| Other services (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP other services 106.8 | $529 | $534 | +$5 |
| Left over after modeled costs | −$434 | −$372 | +$61 |
New York, NY-NJ vs Seattle, WA at a glance
| Measure | New York, NY-NJ | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (BEA RPP, US = 100) | 112.6 | 111.1 |
| Housing price level | 148.6 | 151.3 |
| 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $2,729 | $2,180 |
| 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $2,971 | $2,549 |
| 3-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $3,760 | $3,324 |
| Median home value | $614,200 | $717,500 |
| Effective property-tax rate | 0.71% (Kings County, NY; metro median top-coded) | 0.85% |
| Median household income | $99,155 | $115,177 |
| Center infant care / week (DOL NDCP 2022 unless noted) | $300 | $478 |
| State income tax on wages | Yes | No |
| Mandatory local income tax (principal city) | New York City | None in our data |
| State sales tax | 4% | 6.5% |
| Regular gasoline | $4.38 | $5.42 |
| Average electric bill (state) | $155 | $124 |
Sources: BEA RPP 2024; HUD FMR FY2027; Census ACS 2020-2024; DOL NDCP 2022; 2026 tax law; state revenue departments; EIA (electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05).
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to make in Seattle, WA to keep my New York, NY-NJ lifestyle?+
For a single renter earning $70,000 in New York, NY-NJ, about $55,095 in Seattle, WA (−21.3%). For two adults with a preschooler and a school-age child on $120,000, about $119,066. Both keep the same money left over after 2026 taxes, rent, childcare, food, fuel and other modeled costs.
Is Seattle, WA cheaper than New York, NY-NJ?+
On BEA’s 2024 price index, Seattle, WA is at 111.1 and New York, NY-NJ at 112.6 (US = 100). After taxes and household costs, a single renter on $70,000 would have +$952 a month in Seattle, WA.
How many people move from New York, NY-NJ to Seattle, WA?+
About 5,210 people a year (±935), according to the Census Bureau’s metro-to-metro migration flows (ACS 5-year 2016-2020).
What isn’t included?+
Moving costs, health insurance, car payments and insurance, local sales tax add-ons and differences in wages between the two metros. Add known monthly costs in the calculator’s “Fixed costs / month” field.