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 $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,947 in Clifton, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,110 in Clifton, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,272 in Clifton, NJ, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 22% more than Clifton, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Clifton, NJ sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Clifton, NJ by 120%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$20.12 $20.12

23.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$101 $101

16.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$11.89 $11.89

15.81%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$6.08 $6.08

-6.09%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.36 $2.36

29.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.60 $1.60

56.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.86 $6.86

14.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.80 $6.80

15.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.30 $1.30

3.85%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.34 $4.34

16.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.77 $5.77

-6.59%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$6.47 $6.47

5.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$13.00 $13.00

92.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$10.25 $10.25

54.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$19.64 $19.64

4.84%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.59 $5.59

9.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.51 $2.51

12.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.34 $4.34

26.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.93 $4.93

36.71%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.03 $3.03

3.96%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.62 $2.62

45.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.77 $2.77

-2.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.58 $2.58

2.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$17.26 $17.26

-32.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.14 $15.14

3.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.83 $1.83

60.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.81 $3.81

11.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.69 $2.69

4.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.92 $2.92

-10.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.22 $2.22

-22.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$42.68 $42.68

-29.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.95 $0.95

25.26%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$31.9K $31.9K

2.56%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.38%

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

$263 $263

$211 $211

24.20%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$53.3 $53.3

14.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$62.9 $62.9

20.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$20.60 $20.60

286.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$20.26 $20.26

-19.69%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,726 $1,726

32.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$16.0K $16.0K

82.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$50.6 $50.6

35.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$20.09 $20.09

158.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$91.1 $91.1

27.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$172 $172

-16.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,717 $1,717

36.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,679 $1,679

10.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,656 $2,656

74.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,183 $2,183

59.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,242 $4,242

55.97%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Clifton, NJ: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,717 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 56% 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 $118 in Seattle, WA versus $101 in Clifton, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $443 – 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: $3,598 in Seattle, WA, $2,947 in Clifton, NJ – roughly 22% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,397 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,420 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 $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,947 in Clifton, NJ. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,281 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,726 in Clifton, NJ. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,947 in Clifton, NJ. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,947 in Clifton, NJ to $3,598 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.