Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Edison, NJ and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Edison, NJ: $3,122 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $8,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Edison, NJ, United States
Seattle, WA, United States
Edison, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$3,122
/mo nomad
Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,785
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Edison, NJ and in Seattle, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Edison, NJ and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,122 in Edison, NJ versus $3,785 in Seattle, WA.

  • Edison, NJ $3,122
  • Seattle, WA $3,785

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,397 in Edison, NJ versus $5,688 in Seattle, WA.

  • Edison, NJ $4,397
  • Seattle, WA $5,688

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,671 in Edison, NJ versus $7,592 in Seattle, WA.

  • Edison, NJ $5,671
  • Seattle, WA $7,592

Living in Edison, NJ costs roughly 18% less than in Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Edison, NJ 129% above, Seattle, WA 178% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Edison, NJ
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.26 $18.26
$25.30 $25.30
-27.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.8 $59.8
$101 $101
-40.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.17 $9.17
$14.76 $14.76
-37.87%
Cappuccino
$4.08 $4.08
$6.50 $6.50
-37.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 $1.03
$3.21 $3.21
-67.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 $0.98
$3.14 $3.14
-68.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.44 $3.44
$7.97 $7.97
-56.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82 $6.82
$8.13 $8.13
-16.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Edison, NJ
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.17 $1.17
-14.53%
White Bread (500g)
$3.22 $3.22
$5.30 $5.30
-39.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.14 $6.14
$6.40 $6.40
-4.06%
Eggs
$2.54 $2.54
$5.06 $5.06
-49.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 $13.49
$18.71 $18.71
-27.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.34 $10.34
$18.72 $18.72
-44.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.70 $19.70
$22.88 $22.88
-13.90%
Apples (1kg)
$5.93 $5.93
$6.06 $6.06
-2.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.95 $1.95
-21.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$5.51 $5.51
-21.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.40 $5.40
$6.52 $6.52
-17.18%
Potato (1kg)
$3.01 $3.01
$3.49 $3.49
-13.75%
Onion (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.29 $3.29
-5.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.10 $3.10
$2.80 $2.80
10.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.58 $2.58
-24.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.05 $10.05
$12.49 $12.49
-19.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$14.87 $14.87
-1.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$4.19 $4.19
-58.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 $3.54
$5.80 $5.80
-38.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Edison, NJ
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.84 $5.84
$3.05 $3.05
91.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$199 $199
$106 $106
87.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 $3.05
$2.58 $2.58
18.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.64 $1.64
-44.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.35 $42.35
$30.12 $30.12
40.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.41 $1.41
-36.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K $27.5K
$36.8K $36.8K
-25.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$26.6K $26.6K
-0.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edison, NJ
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 $170
$308 $308
-44.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.4 $51.4
$69.2 $69.2
-25.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.6 $50.6
$86.1 $86.1
-41.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Edison, NJ
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.98 $21.98
$76.5 $76.5
-71.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.50 $35.50
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.98 $14.98
$18.02 $18.02
-16.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Edison, NJ
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,006 $2,006
$2,746 $2,746
-26.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K $15.8K
$30.6K $30.6K
-48.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Edison, NJ
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.8 $50.8
$79.2 $79.2
-35.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$80.2 $80.2
$54.3 $54.3
47.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.1 $61.1
$127 $127
-51.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 $88.5
$159 $159
-44.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Edison, NJ
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,171 $2,171
$2,508 $2,508
-13.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,772 $1,772
$1,938 $1,938
-8.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,129 $3,129
$5,117 $5,117
-38.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,722 $2,722
$3,542 $3,542
-23.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,374 $7,374
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$5,002 $5,002
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Edison, NJ
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,960 $6,960
$6,470 $6,470
7.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.89
-6.82%

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

Last update for Edison, NJ: October 24, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Edison, NJ
$1.8K
Seattle, WA
$1.9K 9.4% $166
Groceries & Markets
Edison, NJ
$408
Seattle, WA
$547 34.1% $139
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edison, NJ
$272
Seattle, WA
$463 69.9% $190
Eating Out
Edison, NJ
$261
Seattle, WA
$406 55.4% $145
Getting Around
Edison, NJ
$230
Seattle, WA
$129 43.8% $101
Clothing & Footwear
Edison, NJ
$126
Seattle, WA
$189 49.4% $62
Sport & Entertainment
Edison, NJ
$52
Seattle, WA
$112 117% $61

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,171 in Edison, NJ and $2,508 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Edison, NJ pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $60 in Edison, NJ vs $101 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $408 vs $547 per month, with Edison, NJ cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Edison, NJ
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🕒 Local time
19:47 7:47 PM
16:47 4:47 PM
3 h behind Edison, NJ
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
107,588
737,015
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Edison, NJ Seattle, WA 3,850 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Edison, NJ
  • Seattle, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Edison, NJ vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Edison, NJ and in Seattle, WA?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $3,122 in Edison, NJ and $3,785 in Seattle, WA, so Edison, NJ is about 18% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Edison, NJ or Seattle, WA?
Average pay runs 8% higher in Edison, NJ, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Edison, NJ and in Seattle, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,171 in Edison, NJ versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Edison, NJ and in Seattle, WA?
A monthly transit pass in Seattle, WA runs roughly 47% less than in Edison, NJ. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Edison, NJ and Seattle, WA?
Childcare runs $2,006 in Edison, NJ versus $2,746 in Seattle, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
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.
How does quality of life compare between Edison, NJ and Seattle, WA?
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.

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