Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Freehold, NJ: $2,635 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $13,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index
125

Cost of Living Index in Freehold, NJ
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Freehold, NJ Living Index

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Freehold, NJ

🇺🇸 United States

$2,635

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Freehold, NJ

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Freehold, NJ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,785 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,635 in Freehold, NJ, rent included.

Seattle, WA $3,785
Freehold, NJ $2,635

A couple spends around $5,688 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,842 in Freehold, NJ, rent included.

Seattle, WA $5,688
Freehold, NJ $3,842

A family of three spends $7,592 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,050 in Freehold, NJ, rent included.

Seattle, WA $7,592
Freehold, NJ $5,050

Seattle, WA costs about 44% more than Freehold, NJ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Seattle, WA and Freehold, NJ sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 178%, Freehold, NJ by 94%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.30 $25.30

$19.77 $19.77

27.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$69.9 $69.9

44.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.76 $14.76

$11.33 $11.33

30.27%

Cappuccino

$6.50 $6.50

$4.47 $4.47

45.41%

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

$3.21 $3.21

$2.30 $2.30

39.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$1.86 $1.86

68.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$5.95 $5.95

33.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$6.64 $6.64

22.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.05 $1.05

11.43%

White Bread (500g)

$5.30 $5.30

$3.50 $3.50

51.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.40 $4.40

45.45%

Eggs

$5.06 $5.06

$4.09 $4.09

23.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.71 $18.71

$12.44 $12.44

50.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.72 $18.72

$11.61 $11.61

61.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.88 $22.88

$16.79 $16.79

36.27%

Apples (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$4.99 $4.99

21.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.63 $1.63

19.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.22 $4.22

30.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.74 $4.74

37.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.85 $2.85

22.46%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.93 $2.93

12.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.20 $2.20

27.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.21 $2.21

16.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.49 $12.49

$9.91 $9.91

26.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$14.76 $14.76

0.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.02 $2.02

107.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 $5.80

$3.40 $3.40

70.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.18 $2.18

39.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

$65.8 $65.8

60.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.05 $3.05

-15.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.97 $1.97

-16.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.12 $30.12

$33.38 $33.38

-9.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.02 $1.02

38.24%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$26.3K $26.3K

39.83%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.1K $26.1K

1.89%

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

$308 $308

$198 $198

55.54%

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

$69.2 $69.2

$59.3 $59.3

16.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.1 $86.1

$70.1 $70.1

22.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.5 $76.5

$40.50 $40.50

88.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.50 $35.50

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$14.21 $14.21

26.81%

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

$2,746 $2,746

$1,357 $1,357

102.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$23.9K $23.9K

28.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.2 $79.2

$52.3 $52.3

51.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.3 $54.3

$41.24 $41.24

31.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$88.3 $88.3

43.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$113 $113

40.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,508 $2,508

$1,590 $1,590

57.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,938 $1,938

$1,316 $1,316

47.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,117 $5,117

$2,513 $2,513

103.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,542 $3,542

$2,174 $2,174

62.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,374 $7,374

$2,800 $2,800

163.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,002 $5,002

$2,308 $2,308

116.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,470 $6,470

$3,850 $3,850

68.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.89

6.57

4.87%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Freehold, NJ: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2%

Freehold, NJ

$1.3K 49.9% 32.1% $622

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5%

Freehold, NJ

$397 15.1% 27.5% $150

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2%

Freehold, NJ

$327 12.4% 29.3% $136

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7%

Freehold, NJ

$306 11.6% 24.8% $101

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$189 5%

Freehold, NJ

$133 5% 29.6% $56

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4%

Freehold, NJ

$87 3.3% 32.2% $42

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$112 3%

Freehold, NJ

$69 2.6% 38.7% $44

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,508 in Seattle, WA versus $1,590 in Freehold, 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 68% higher in Seattle, WA. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Seattle, WA versus $70 in Freehold, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $397 – making Freehold, NJ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 Freehold, NJ

🕒 Local time

02:44 2:44 AM

05:44 5:44 AM

3 h ahead of Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

11,394

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Seattle, WA Freehold, NJ 3,870 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Seattle, WA
Freehold, NJ

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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 Freehold, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 44%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,677 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,952 in Freehold, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Freehold, NJ, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,590 there versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,785 in Seattle, WA and $2,635 in Freehold, NJ. That makes Freehold, NJ about 30% cheaper.

Public transport costs about 38% less in Freehold, NJ. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,785 in Seattle, WA and $2,635 in Freehold, NJ. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Freehold, NJ – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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