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 $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,009 in Clifton, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,605 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,170 in Clifton, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,645 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,331 in Clifton, NJ, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 18% more than Clifton, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Clifton, NJ sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 167%, Clifton, NJ by 125%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$20.23 $20.23

22.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$100 $100

18.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$12.11 $12.11

16.85%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.84 $5.84

-2.23%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.27 $2.27

29.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.63 $1.63

54.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$7.12 $7.12

10.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$6.88 $6.88

17.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.36 $4.36

16.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$5.50 $5.50

-4.55%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$6.46 $6.46

6.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$13.12 $13.12

90.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$10.20 $10.20

54.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$19.87 $19.87

4.28%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$5.81 $5.81

6.54%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.42 $2.42

15.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.33 $4.33

27.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$4.95 $4.95

29.70%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.13 $3.13

0.96%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.53 $2.53

53.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.85 $2.85

-5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.58 $2.58

-1.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$17.29 $17.29

-34.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$15.17 $15.17

3.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.77 $1.77

62.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.83 $3.83

11.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.73 $2.73

-0.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.92 $2.92

-11.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$2.22 $2.22

-26.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$41.26 $41.26

-28.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.96 $0.96

18.75%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$31.1K $31.1K

5.43%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

3.03%

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

$264 $264

$213 $213

23.86%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$53.5 $53.5

15.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$63.0 $63.0

19.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$20.73 $20.73

276.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$19.67 $19.67

-18.10%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,727 $1,727

28.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$16.2K $16.2K

79.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$49.75 $49.75

39.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$19.75 $19.75

172.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$89.5 $89.5

33.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$169 $169

-15.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,697 $1,697

38.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,663 $1,663

10.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$2,653 $2,653

76.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$2,238 $2,238

59.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$4,305 $4,305

50.37%

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 12, 2026

Last update for Clifton, NJ: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,697 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 50% 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 $119 in Seattle, WA versus $100 in Clifton, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $543 vs $444 – 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: $3,565 in Seattle, WA, $3,009 in Clifton, NJ – roughly 18% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,347 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,514 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 $3,565 in Seattle, WA and $3,009 in Clifton, NJ. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,212 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,727 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 $3,565 in Seattle, WA and $3,009 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 $3,009 in Clifton, NJ to $3,565 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.