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: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $2,893 in Camden, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $4,193 in Camden, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $5,493 in Camden, NJ.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 27% more expensive than Camden, NJ, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Camden, NJ 116% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$20.22 $20.22

25.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$91.0 $91.0

33.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$11.98 $11.98

17.78%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$5.02 $5.02

15.94%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.74 $2.74

8.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.95 $1.95

23.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$6.01 $6.01

28.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.94 $6.94

13.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.36 $1.36

-1.47%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$4.12 $4.12

19.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$8.42 $8.42

-38.95%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$4.52 $4.52

45.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$14.96 $14.96

64.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$16.67 $16.67

-4.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$20.13 $20.13

0.05%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$6.00 $6.00

4.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.16 $2.16

32.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.72 $5.72

-7.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.46 $5.46

17.03%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.79 $3.79

-15.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.78 $2.78

37.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.99 $2.99

-8.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.55 $2.55

1.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$12.90 $12.90

-9.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$17.25 $17.25

-8.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.03 $2.03

41.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.28 $4.28

2.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.35 $2.35

17.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$58.5 $58.5

68.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.93 $2.93

-8.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.51 $1.51

12.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$22.10 $22.10

34.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.97 $0.97

17.53%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$30.5K $30.5K

7.75%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.51%

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

$268 $268

$267 $267

0.31%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$60.3 $60.3

1.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$74.9 $74.9

1.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$43.51 $43.51

79.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$14.74 $14.74

7.33%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$2,053 $2,053

9.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.3K $23.3K

27.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$56.9 $56.9

24.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$41.23 $41.23

28.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$94.2 $94.2

24.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$143 $143

-3.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,576 $1,576

46.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,335 $1,335

38.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,674 $2,674

77.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,200 $2,200

61.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,662 $2,662

192.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,401 $2,401

122.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$4,790 $4,790

37.27%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Camden, NJ: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $1,576 in Camden, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 37% 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: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $91 in Camden, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $501 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 27% in total monthly costs ($3,661 vs $2,893 including rent). Camden, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 37% more on average, 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: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,576 in Camden, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Camden, NJ runs roughly 69% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,252 in Seattle, WA versus $2,053 in Camden, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Camden, 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.

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 27% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.