City Comparison

Albany vs Everett

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Albany

New York
99
Average
$220,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$43,098
Median Income

Everett

Washington
136
Expensive
$575,000
Median Home
$1,800/mo
Median Rent
$75,400
Median Income

The Verdict

27.2%

Albany is 27.2% less expensive than Everett overall. A household earning $75,000 in Albany would need approximately $103,030 in Everett to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
93
Albany
192
Everett
Groceries
102
Albany
109
Everett
Utilities
107
Albany
92
Everett
Transportation
101
Albany
117
Everett
Healthcare
100
Albany
122
Everett

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Albany has the same purchasing power as $103,030 in Everett.

Conversely, $75,000 in Everett equals $54,596 in Albany.

Living in Albany vs Everett

Housing Costs

Albany's housing index of 93 is lower Everett's 192, translating to median home prices of $220,000 vs $575,000. The $355,000 difference in home prices means roughly $23,076 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Albany compared to $1,800/mo in Everett, a monthly difference of $600.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 102 in Albany and 109 in Everett. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Albany vs $518/month in Everett. Albany offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 107 in Albany and 92 in Everett. Monthly utility bills average approximately $428 in Albany vs $368 in Everett. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 100 in Albany and 122 in Everett. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 22-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $43,098 in Albany and $75,400 in Everett. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $43,533 and $55,441 respectively. Everett residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,006/month to housing in Albany vs $1,759/month in Everett. In Albany, median rent of $1,200/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Everett, median rent of $1,800/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 99 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Albany is 27.2% more affordable overall with an index of 99 vs 136.
A $75,000 salary in Albany has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $103,030 in Everett, based on the cost of living difference.
Albany's housing index is 93 with median homes at $220,000, while Everett's is 192 with median homes at $575,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases