Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Atlantic City, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Atlantic City, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,796 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $4,228 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $5,661 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 37% more expensive than in Atlantic City, NJ, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Atlantic City, NJ 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$20.33 $20.33

21.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$89.3 $89.3

10.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$11.33 $11.33

33.19%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$5.57 $5.57

18.85%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.38 $2.38

31.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.99 $1.99

49.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$6.42 $6.42

26.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$8.89 $8.89

-11.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.18 $1.18

-0.85%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.29 $3.29

58.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$6.99 $6.99

-8.44%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$4.14 $4.14

18.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$10.95 $10.95

95.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$16.56 $16.56

12.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$19.75 $19.75

16.71%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$7.58 $7.58

-23.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$3.85 $3.85

-51.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.39 $5.39

-0.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$6.13 $6.13

2.77%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$4.15 $4.15

-8.43%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$4.74 $4.74

-31.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.52 $2.52

13.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.47 $2.47

9.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$14.74 $14.74

-4.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$13.69 $13.69

10.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.70 $2.70

61.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.25 $3.25

76.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.08 $3.08

-0.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

$89.7 $89.7

22.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.94 $2.94

-12.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.21 $2.21

-25.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$41.68 $41.68

-28.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.86 $0.86

60.47%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$20.0K $20.0K

82.10%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.3K $25.3K

-0.72%

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

$296 $296

$241 $241

22.71%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$55.9 $55.9

27.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$61.4 $61.4

43.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$29.46 $29.46

176.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

$50.1 $50.1

-28.73%

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$16.93 $16.93

8.27%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$506 $506

505.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$7,002 $7,002

336.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$71.9 $71.9

7.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$31.30 $31.30

72.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$122 $122

4.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$119 $119

38.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,708 $1,708

41.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,283 $1,283

50.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,413 $2,413

97.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$2,152 $2,152

66.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$3,562 $3,562

107.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$3,653 $3,653

38.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$4,053 $4,053

55.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

114.00%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Atlantic City, NJ: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,708 in Atlantic City, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 56% 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: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $89.0 in Atlantic City, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $486 per month, with Atlantic City, NJ cheaper across the board.

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

Seattle, WA vs Atlantic City, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Atlantic City, NJ differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($3,836 vs $2,796 including rent). Atlantic City, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 56% higher in Seattle, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,708 in Atlantic City, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Atlantic City, NJ – a meal for two runs $89.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Atlantic City, 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.

Expats usually find Atlantic City, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.