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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,598 in Camden, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $3,851 in Camden, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $5,104 in Camden, NJ.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 48% more expensive than in Camden, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Camden, NJ 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$19.91 $19.91

23.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$80.6 $80.6

22.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$11.76 $11.76

28.32%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$5.33 $5.33

24.20%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.52 $2.52

24.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.96 $1.96

52.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$6.15 $6.15

32.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$8.16 $8.16

-3.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.47 $1.47

-20.41%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.52 $4.52

15.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$7.33 $7.33

-12.69%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$5.03 $5.03

-2.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$12.05 $12.05

78.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$13.00 $13.00

42.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$18.11 $18.11

27.28%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$5.69 $5.69

1.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.69 $1.69

11.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.08 $5.08

5.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$5.22 $5.22

20.69%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.78 $2.78

36.69%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.21 $3.21

1.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.37 $2.37

21.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.47 $2.47

9.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$12.75 $12.75

10.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$14.93 $14.93

0.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.40 $2.40

81.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.36 $3.36

71.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.14 $2.14

42.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.73 $2.73

-5.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.59 $1.59

3.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$24.35 $24.35

22.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.15 $1.15

20.00%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.2K $35.2K

3.45%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.4K $25.4K

-1.05%

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

$296 $296

$217 $217

36.28%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$55.2 $55.2

29.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$61.5 $61.5

43.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$39.04 $39.04

108.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$15.05 $15.05

21.79%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$2,187 $2,187

40.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$34.7K $34.7K

-11.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$49.26 $49.26

56.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$47.15 $47.15

14.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$101 $101

26.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$121 $121

35.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,355 $1,355

78.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,392 $1,392

38.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,262 $2,262

110.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$1,999 $1,999

79.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,921 $2,921

153.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$2,346 $2,346

115.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.16

4.22%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Camden, NJ: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,355 in Camden, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $81.0 in Camden, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $452 per month, with Camden, 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 Camden, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Camden, NJ differ by about 48% in total monthly costs ($3,836 vs $2,598 including rent). Camden, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,754 in Seattle, WA and $3,897 in Camden, NJ to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,355 in Camden, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,598 in Camden, NJ – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,598 in Camden, NJ versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Camden, NJ but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Camden, NJ the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Camden, NJ are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Camden, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.