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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,636 in Middlesex, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,544 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,719 in Middlesex, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,427 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,803 in Middlesex, NJ, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 39% more than Middlesex, NJ, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Seattle, WA and Middlesex, NJ sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 173%, Middlesex, NJ by 97%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$10.96 $10.96

131.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$36.61 $36.61

231.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$5.81 $5.81

142.86%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$3.42 $3.42

70.18%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$1.15 $1.15

159.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.93 $1.93

24.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$2.95 $2.95

162.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.08 $6.08

29.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.18 $1.18

13.56%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.53 $3.53

39.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$9.96 $9.96

-48.39%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$4.38 $4.38

50.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$15.26 $15.26

61.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$13.58 $13.58

16.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$21.47 $21.47

-6.19%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$6.22 $6.22

0.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.15 $2.15

33.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.18 $5.18

2.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.39 $5.39

18.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.39 $3.39

-5.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.80 $2.80

36.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.99 $2.99

-8.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.50 $2.50

3.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$13.11 $13.11

-11.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$14.75 $14.75

6.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.94 $1.94

48.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.15 $4.15

5.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.01 $2.01

37.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.09 $3.09

-13.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.35 $1.35

25.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$22.42 $22.42

32.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.83 $0.83

37.35%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$27.3K $27.3K

20.39%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.8K $25.8K

0.53%

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

$268 $268

$266 $266

0.75%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$63.4 $63.4

-3.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$74.7 $74.7

2.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$42.58 $42.58

83.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$14.93 $14.93

5.96%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$2,094 $2,094

7.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.1K $23.1K

28.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$50.3 $50.3

40.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$41.97 $41.97

26.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$93.3 $93.3

25.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$141 $141

-1.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$2,669 $2,669

-13.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,368 $1,368

35.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,586 $2,586

83.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,243 $2,243

58.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,773 $2,773

180.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,225 $2,225

140.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.68

-3.89%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Middlesex, NJ: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $2,669 in Middlesex, NJ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Seattle, WA versus $37 in Middlesex, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $539 vs $479 – making Middlesex, 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 Middlesex, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,491 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,954 in Middlesex, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Middlesex, 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 $3,661 in Seattle, WA and $2,636 in Middlesex, NJ. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,252 per month in Seattle, WA and $2,094 in Middlesex, NJ. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,661 in Seattle, WA and $2,636 in Middlesex, NJ. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Middlesex, 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.