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

🙂 Solo nomad: Santa Monica, CA is 2.8% cheaper than Edison, NJ without rent, and 32.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Santa Monica, CA is 3.8% more expensive than Edison, NJ without rent, and 55.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.29 $25.29

$19.9 $19.9

27.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$80.8 $80.8

23.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.3 $12.3

$12.59 $12.59

-2.30%

Cappuccino

$5.68 $5.68

$5.19 $5.19

9.44%

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

$2.88 $2.88

$2.47 $2.47

16.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.3 $2.3

$2.12 $2.12

8.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.59 $8.59

$7.78 $7.78

10.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.32 $9.32

$8.13 $8.13

14.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.21 $1.21

-2.48%

White Bread (500g)

$4.45 $4.45

$3.97 $3.97

12.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$6.18 $6.18

-27.35%

Eggs

$7.19 $7.19

$4.32 $4.32

66.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.47 $12.47

$13.69 $13.69

-8.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.7 $13.7

$12.47 $12.47

9.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.46 $14.46

$15.35 $15.35

-5.80%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$6.21 $6.21

-13.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.58 $2.58

-24.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$5.44 $5.44

-27.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$5.93 $5.93

-3.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$4.44 $4.44

-32.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$4.34 $4.34

-43.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.48 $2.48

-26.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.29 $2.29

-7.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.83 $10.83

$11.19 $11.19

-3.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$18.64 $18.64

-18.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.76 $1.76

43.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.34 $5.34

$3.59 $3.59

48.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.08 $2.08

$5.82 $5.82

-64.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.5 $81.5

$201 $201

-59.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.94 $2.94

7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$0.96 $0.96

78.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.08 $29.08

$42.33 $42.33

-31.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$0.91 $0.91

36.26%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

$25.8K $25.8K

-7.68%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.82%

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

$190 $190

$178 $178

6.46%

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

$58.4 $58.4

$60.6 $60.6

-3.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67 $67

$69.4 $69.4

-3.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 $122

$22.36 $22.36

446.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.73 $44.73

Cinema Ticket

$18.03 $18.03

$14.78 $14.78

21.99%

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

$1,791 $1,791

$1,831 $1,831

-2.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K $14.7K

$14.4K $14.4K

2.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.8 $62.8

$61.9 $61.9

1.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.08 $34.08

$55.4 $55.4

-38.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$113 $113

-9.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$131 $131

16.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,279 $3,279

$2,106 $2,106

55.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,892 $2,892

$1,829 $1,829

58.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,850 $6,850

$3,160 $3,160

116.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,897 $5,897

$2,745 $2,745

114.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.8K $10.8K

$2,548 $2,548

323.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,171 $8,171

$2,739 $2,739

198.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,229 $7,229

$6,422 $6,422

12.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.55

-0.92%

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

Last update for Santa Monica, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Edison, NJ: October 27, 2025

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