Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Newark, DE

For one person, living is cheaper in Newark, DE: $2,583 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $14,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index
124

Cost of Living Index in Newark, DE
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Newark, DE Living Index

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Newark, DE

🇺🇸 United States

$2,583

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Newark, DE

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 Newark, DE actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,785 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,583 in Newark, DE, rent included.

Seattle, WA $3,785
Newark, DE $2,583

A couple spends around $5,688 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,552 in Newark, DE, rent included.

Seattle, WA $5,688
Newark, DE $3,552

A family of three spends $7,592 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,521 in Newark, DE, rent included.

Seattle, WA $7,592
Newark, DE $4,521

Seattle, WA costs about 47% more than Newark, DE, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Seattle, WA and Newark, DE sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 178%, Newark, DE by 90%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.30 $25.30

$15.90 $15.90

59.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$59.1 $59.1

70.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.76 $14.76

$8.84 $8.84

66.97%

Cappuccino

$6.50 $6.50

$5.14 $5.14

26.46%

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

$3.21 $3.21

$2.50 $2.50

28.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$1.69 $1.69

85.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$3.96 $3.96

101.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$5.91 $5.91

37.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.83 $0.83

40.96%

White Bread (500g)

$5.30 $5.30

$2.03 $2.03

161.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$2.62 $2.62

144.27%

Eggs

$5.06 $5.06

$3.88 $3.88

30.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.71 $18.71

$9.62 $9.62

94.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.72 $18.72

$8.72 $8.72

114.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.88 $22.88

$15.53 $15.53

47.33%

Apples (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$4.54 $4.54

33.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.34 $1.34

45.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.34 $4.34

26.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.08 $4.08

59.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.64 $2.64

32.20%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.60 $2.60

26.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.91 $1.91

46.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.31 $1.31

96.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.49 $12.49

$13.61 $13.61

-8.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$14.55 $14.55

2.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$1.70 $1.70

146.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 $5.80

$3.60 $3.60

61.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.05 $3.05

$4.08 $4.08

-25.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

$59.7 $59.7

77.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$4.95 $4.95

-47.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.07 $1.07

53.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.12 $30.12

$23.01 $23.01

30.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$0.94 $0.94

50.00%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$17.3K $17.3K

112.46%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$20.8K $20.8K

27.92%

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

$308 $308

$225 $225

36.99%

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

$69.2 $69.2

$51.0 $51.0

35.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.1 $86.1

$50.8 $50.8

69.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.5 $76.5

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.50 $35.50

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$12.97 $12.97

38.94%

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

$2,746 $2,746

$1,919 $1,919

43.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$27.8K $27.8K

9.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.2 $79.2

$45.70 $45.70

73.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.3 $54.3

$39.78 $39.78

36.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$86.9 $86.9

45.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$132 $132

20.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,508 $2,508

$1,508 $1,508

66.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,938 $1,938

$1,420 $1,420

36.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,117 $5,117

$2,626 $2,626

94.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,542 $3,542

$2,030 $2,030

74.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,374 $7,374

$2,553 $2,553

188.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,002 $5,002

$2,240 $2,240

123.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,470 $6,470

$4,275 $4,275

51.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.89

6.46

6.66%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Newark, DE: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2%

Newark, DE

$1.4K 55% 26.7% $518

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5%

Newark, DE

$323 12.5% 40.9% $224

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2%

Newark, DE

$326 12.6% 29.5% $137

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7%

Newark, DE

$264 10.2% 35.1% $142

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$189 5%

Newark, DE

$137 5.3% 27.4% $52

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4%

Newark, DE

$86 3.3% 33% $43

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$112 3%

Newark, DE

$26 * 1% 76.9% $87

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,508 in Seattle, WA versus $1,508 in Newark, DE. 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 51% 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 $59 in Newark, DE. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $323 – making Newark, DE the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 Newark, DE

🕒 Local time

01:01 1:01 AM

04:01 4:01 AM

3 h ahead of Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

311,549

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Seattle, WA Newark, DE 3,790 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Seattle, WA
Newark, DE

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Newark, DE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 47%, 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 $3,875 in Newark, DE. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 44% less in Newark, DE. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,746 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,919 in Newark, DE. 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 $3,785 in Seattle, WA and $2,583 in Newark, DE. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Newark, DE – 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 Newark, DE. 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.