Cost of Living Comparison Between Edison, NJ and Santa Monica, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Edison, NJ and Santa Monica, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,373 in Edison, NJ versus $4,561 in Santa Monica, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,737 in Edison, NJ versus $6,985 in Santa Monica, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,101 in Edison, NJ versus $9,408 in Santa Monica, CA.

Living in Edison, NJ costs roughly 26% less than in Santa Monica, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Edison, NJ 152% above, Santa Monica, CA 240% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.07 $20.07

$25.17 $25.17

-20.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.9 $80.9

$98.5 $98.5

-17.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.62 $12.62

$12.35 $12.35

2.19%

Cappuccino

$5.14 $5.14

$5.59 $5.59

-8.05%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.95 $2.95

-17.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.26 $2.26

-5.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.02 $8.02

$8.61 $8.61

-6.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.23 $8.23

$9.24 $9.24

-10.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.18 $1.18

4.24%

White Bread (500g)

$4.00 $4.00

$4.29 $4.29

-6.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.21 $6.21

$4.37 $4.37

42.11%

Eggs

$4.15 $4.15

$6.99 $6.99

-40.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.54 $13.54

$12.47 $12.47

8.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.39 $12.39

$13.90 $13.90

-10.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.26 $15.26

$14.69 $14.69

3.88%

Apples (1kg)

$6.26 $6.26

$5.60 $5.60

11.79%

Banana (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.98 $1.98

30.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$3.96 $3.96

33.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.18 $6.18

$5.72 $5.72

8.04%

Potato (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$2.97 $2.97

45.79%

Onion (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$2.51 $2.51

74.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.90 $1.90

30.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.16 $2.16

6.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.10 $11.10

$10.97 $10.97

1.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$15.15 $15.15

0.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.52 $2.52

-30.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$5.15 $5.15

-28.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$6.03 $6.03

$2.18 $2.18

176.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$203 $203

$78.8 $78.8

157.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.07 $3.07

-2.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.71 $1.71

-43.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.67 $42.67

$28.91 $28.91

47.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.30 $1.30

-28.46%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.6K $25.6K

$24.4K $24.4K

5.29%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.2K $25.2K

4.61%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$181 $181

$192 $192

-5.75%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.5 $60.5

$58.9 $58.9

2.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.3 $67.3

$65.8 $65.8

2.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.82 $21.82

$122 $122

-82.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.04 $45.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.94 $14.94

$18.15 $18.15

-17.69%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,882 $1,882

$1,806 $1,806

4.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K $14.1K

$14.8K $14.8K

-4.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.5 $62.5

$62.3 $62.3

0.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.5 $55.5

$34.90 $34.90

59.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 $112

$103 $103

8.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 $132

$152 $152

-13.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,153 $2,153

$3,293 $3,293

-34.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,801 $1,801

$2,878 $2,878

-37.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,210 $3,210

$6,994 $6,994

-54.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,822 $2,822

$5,951 $5,951

-52.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.8K $10.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,190 $8,190

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,796 $6,796

$7,147 $7,147

-4.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.49

0.92%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Edison, NJ: May 31, 2026

Last update for Santa Monica, CA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,153 in Edison, NJ and $3,293 in Santa Monica, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santa Monica, CA pays 5% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $81.0 in Edison, NJ vs $98.0 in Santa Monica, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $447 vs $436, with Santa Monica, CA cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Edison, NJ vs Santa Monica, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Edison, NJ and Santa Monica, CA differ by about 35% in total monthly costs ($3,373 vs $4,561 including rent). Edison, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Santa Monica, CA earns 5% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,153 in Edison, NJ versus $3,293 in Santa Monica, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Edison, NJ runs roughly 158% less than in Santa Monica, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,882 in Edison, NJ versus $1,806 in Santa Monica, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Edison, NJ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Edison, NJ and Santa Monica, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Edison, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Santa Monica, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.