Cost of Living Comparison Between Newton, MA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Newton, MA and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,398 per month in Newton, MA vs $3,661 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,248 per month in Newton, MA vs $5,544 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,097 per month in Newton, MA vs $7,427 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Newton, MA is about 7% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Newton, MA and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Newton, MA by 154%, Seattle, WA by 173%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.95 $24.95

$25.32 $25.32

-1.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$121 $121

-16.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.22 $11.22

$14.11 $14.11

-20.48%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$5.82 $5.82

-3.95%

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

$2.70 $2.70

$2.98 $2.98

-9.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.40 $2.40

-9.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.66 $6.66

$7.73 $7.73

-13.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.87 $7.87

0.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.34 $1.34

-6.72%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.91 $4.91

-17.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$5.14 $5.14

23.93%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$6.57 $6.57

-28.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.01 $20.01

$24.64 $24.64

-18.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.05 $13.05

$15.88 $15.88

-17.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.28 $14.28

$20.14 $20.14

-29.10%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$6.27 $6.27

-10.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.86 $2.86

-32.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.98 $5.98

$5.29 $5.29

13.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$6.39 $6.39

-3.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$3.21 $3.21

0.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.83 $3.83

-1.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.74 $2.74

-10.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.58 $2.58

-16.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.70 $13.70

$11.64 $11.64

17.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.05 $17.05

$15.77 $15.77

8.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.88 $2.88

-40.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.39 $4.39

-42.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.76 $2.76

-12.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.4 $91.4

$98.8 $98.8

-7.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.67 $2.67

-1.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.70 $1.70

2.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.24 $28.24

$29.74 $29.74

-5.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.14 $1.14

-17.54%

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

$28.5K $28.5K

$32.9K $32.9K

-13.35%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.0K $26.0K

-1.37%

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

$185 $185

$268 $268

-31.12%

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

$57.3 $57.3

$60.9 $60.9

-5.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$76.2 $76.2

-9.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.2 $64.2

$78.1 $78.1

-17.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 $12.77

$15.82 $15.82

-19.28%

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

$1,279 $1,279

$2,252 $2,252

-43.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.8K $27.8K

$29.7K $29.7K

-6.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.7 $66.7

$70.8 $70.8

-5.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.28 $37.28

$53.1 $53.1

-29.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 $92.3

$117 $117

-21.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$139 $139

4.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,858 $1,858

$2,310 $2,310

-19.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,849 $1,849

0.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,772 $3,772

$4,739 $4,739

-20.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,706 $3,706

$3,556 $3,556

4.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,080 $6,080

$7,775 $7,775

-21.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,326 $5,326

$5,351 $5,351

-0.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,953 $7,953

$6,575 $6,575

20.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.42

-0.62%

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

Last update for Newton, MA: April 20, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,858 in Newton, MA versus $2,310 in Seattle, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% higher in Newton, MA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Newton, MA versus $121 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $461 vs $539 – making Newton, MA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Newton, MA vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,398 in Newton, MA, $3,661 in Seattle, WA – roughly 8% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,097 per month in Newton, MA and $5,491 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Newton, MA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 8% less in Newton, MA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,279 per month in Newton, MA and $2,252 in Seattle, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,398 in Newton, MA and $3,661 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,398 in Newton, MA to $3,661 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Newton, MA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.