CostIndexUSA

Albany, NY vs Mount Vernon, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNY
Albany
99.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
WA
Mount Vernon
102.4
overall index
$2,125/mo rent

Albany is slightly cheaper than Mount Vernon — 2.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Albany, you would need $82,200 in Mount Vernon. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+5.5%
Albany
102.6
Mount Vernon
108.2
🛒 Groceries+5.3%
Albany
99.7
Mount Vernon
105
🚗 Transportation+1.8%
Albany
102.6
Mount Vernon
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+1.7%
Albany
92.9
Mount Vernon
94.5
Utilities28.4%
Albany
134
Mount Vernon
96

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Albany to see what you'd need to earn in Mount Vernon to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Mount Vernon, WA
$82,200
$2,200 more needed in Mount Vernon

Formula: salary × (102.4 ÷ 99.6) = salary × 1.0281. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Albany, NY

Median Home Price
$350,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
102.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Mount Vernon, WA

Median Home Price
$567,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,125
Housing Index
108.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.2×

Mount Vernon has 5.5% higher housing costs compared to Albany.

Income & Job Market

Albany, NY

Median Household Income
$82,400
Per Capita Income
$47,000
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
98,111
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationFinanceTechnology

Mount Vernon, WA

Median Household Income
$91,200
Per Capita Income
$52,000
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
36,727
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailTourism

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Albany, NY
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Mount Vernon, WA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.