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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,724 in Clifton, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,763 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,994 in Clifton, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,691 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,264 in Clifton, NJ, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 41% more than Clifton, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Seattle, WA and Clifton, NJ sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 179%, Clifton, NJ by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$22.90 $22.90

7.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$79.2 $79.2

25.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$13.06 $13.06

15.54%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$6.28 $6.28

5.41%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.54 $2.54

23.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.71 $1.71

74.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$8.14 $8.14

-0.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.16 $7.16

9.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.32 $1.32

-11.36%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.62 $4.62

12.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$6.08 $6.08

5.26%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$5.84 $5.84

-15.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$13.77 $13.77

55.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$10.15 $10.15

83.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$17.75 $17.75

29.86%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$6.17 $6.17

-6.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.23 $2.23

-15.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.60 $5.60

-3.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$5.41 $5.41

16.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.57 $3.57

6.44%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$4.13 $4.13

-21.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.97 $2.97

-3.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.56 $2.56

5.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$17.77 $17.77

-20.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$14.97 $14.97

0.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.85 $1.85

135.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.55 $3.55

61.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$4.30 $4.30

-28.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.96 $2.96

-13.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.11 $2.11

-21.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$42.48 $42.48

-29.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.09 $1.09

26.61%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.8K $35.8K

1.66%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$24.9K $24.9K

0.92%

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

$296 $296

$204 $204

45.12%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$51.5 $51.5

38.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$66.5 $66.5

32.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$29.35 $29.35

177.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$20.42 $20.42

-10.24%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,755 $1,755

74.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$15.8K $15.8K

93.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$31.18 $31.18

146.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$19.92 $19.92

170.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$109 $109

16.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$126 $126

30.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,348 $1,348

79.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,378 $1,378

40.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,813 $2,813

69.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$2,208 $2,208

62.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$8,552 $8,552

-13.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$4,234 $4,234

49.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.3

1.90%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Clifton, NJ: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,348 in Clifton, NJ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 49% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Seattle, WA versus $79.0 in Clifton, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $454 – making Clifton, NJ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Clifton, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA, $2,724 in Clifton, NJ – roughly 41% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,754 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,085 in Clifton, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Clifton, NJ, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,836 in Seattle, WA and $2,724 in Clifton, NJ. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,067 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,755 in Clifton, NJ. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Clifton, NJ, where all-in costs run around $2,724, than in Seattle, WA at $3,836. In Clifton, NJ it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,724 in Clifton, NJ to $3,836 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Clifton, NJ. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.