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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,973 in Middletown, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,486 in Middletown, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $6,000 in Middletown, NJ, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 21% more than Middletown, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Middletown, NJ sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Middletown, NJ by 122%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$24.98 $24.98

-0.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$86.6 $86.6

35.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$12.65 $12.65

8.85%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.90 $5.90

-3.22%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$3.28 $3.28

-7.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.56 $2.56

-2.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.41 $6.41

22.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.78 $7.78

1.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.03 $1.03

31.07%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.92 $2.92

73.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.54 $5.54

-2.71%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.02 $4.02

70.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$13.25 $13.25

89.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$6.80 $6.80

133.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$13.07 $13.07

57.54%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$3.26 $3.26

88.34%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.51 $1.51

86.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$2.83 $2.83

94.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.33 $4.33

55.66%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.69 $1.69

86.39%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$4.08 $4.08

-6.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.54 $2.54

5.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.59 $2.59

1.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$9.44 $9.44

23.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$19.73 $19.73

-20.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.90 $2.90

1.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.82 $3.82

10.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.99 $1.99

41.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.91 $4.91

-47.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.14 $2.14

-19.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$41.90 $41.90

-27.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.96 $0.96

23.96%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$35.1K $35.1K

-6.74%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$28.5K $28.5K

-8.27%

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

$263 $263

$182 $182

43.97%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$59.7 $59.7

1.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$60.3 $60.3

25.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$42.91 $42.91

85.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$20.36 $20.36

-20.09%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$3,137 $3,137

-27.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$23.0K $23.0K

27.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$49.72 $49.72

37.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$47.93 $47.93

8.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$34.80 $34.80

232.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$173 $173

-17.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,599 $1,599

46.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,713 $1,713

8.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,603 $2,603

77.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,962 $2,962

17.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,625 $2,625

195.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,458 $2,458

112.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,085 $4,085

61.99%

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 Middletown, NJ: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,599 in Middletown, 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 62% 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 $87.0 in Middletown, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $365 – making Middletown, 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 Middletown, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA, $2,973 in Middletown, NJ – roughly 21% 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 $4,459 in Middletown, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Seattle, WA and $87.0 in Middletown, NJ. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 50% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,973 in Middletown, 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 $2,973 in Middletown, NJ to $3,598 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Middletown, 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.