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: $3,604 in Seattle, WA versus $2,337 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $3,628 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,494 in Seattle, WA versus $4,920 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 54% more expensive than in Atlantic City, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Atlantic City, NJ 75% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$25.12 $25.12

-1.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$59.0 $59.0

106.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$12.41 $12.41

12.97%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.36 $5.36

3.73%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.79 $2.79

9.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.51 $2.51

-4.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$6.98 $6.98

13.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$9.16 $9.16

-11.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.16 $1.16

18.97%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$4.00 $4.00

23.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$8.19 $8.19

-34.68%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$6.27 $6.27

5.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$17.39 $17.39

43.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$16.20 $16.20

-1.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$20.15 $20.15

0.30%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$4.49 $4.49

37.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.42 $2.42

14.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.88 $5.88

-8.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$6.46 $6.46

0.93%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.69 $3.69

-13.01%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.11 $4.11

-8.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.03 $2.03

39.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.95 $1.95

34.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$19.32 $19.32

-39.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$14.77 $14.77

4.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$3.04 $3.04

-6.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$3.81 $3.81

11.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.05 $2.05

34.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.84 $4.84

-46.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.23 $2.23

-26.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$41.52 $41.52

-28.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.83 $0.83

37.35%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$35.5K $35.5K

-6.59%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$27.6K $27.6K

-5.92%

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

$270 $270

$184 $184

46.65%

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

$59.7 $59.7

-0.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$54.0 $54.0

37.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$42.63 $42.63

82.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$14.18 $14.18

11.28%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$3,192 $3,192

-28.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.4K $23.4K

27.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$42.82 $42.82

63.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$39.89 $39.89

31.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$60.3 $60.3

94.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$74.0 $74.0

94.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,416 $1,416

64.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$1,017 $1,017

86.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,025 $2,025

134.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$1,865 $1,865

86.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$3,664 $3,664

110.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$3,603 $3,603

38.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

$4,129 $4,129

60.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.44

-0.31%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 19, 2026

Last update for Atlantic City, NJ: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Seattle, WA and $1,416 in Atlantic City, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 61% 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: $122 in Seattle, WA vs $59.0 in Atlantic City, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $541 vs $499 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 54% in total monthly costs ($3,604 vs $2,337 including rent). Atlantic City, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 61% 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: $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $1,416 in Atlantic City, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,279 in Seattle, WA versus $3,192 in Atlantic City, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Atlantic City, NJ – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $122 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 54% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.