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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $3,152 in Newark, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $4,546 in Newark, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $5,940 in Newark, NJ.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 16% more expensive than Newark, NJ, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Newark, NJ 135% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$19.84 $19.84

27.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$89.3 $89.3

35.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$11.95 $11.95

18.08%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$4.87 $4.87

19.51%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.70 $2.70

10.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.02 $2.02

18.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$6.11 $6.11

26.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.84 $6.84

15.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.42 $1.42

-5.63%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$4.42 $4.42

11.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$8.30 $8.30

-38.07%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$5.82 $5.82

12.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$15.11 $15.11

63.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$16.41 $16.41

-3.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$21.27 $21.27

-5.31%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$7.72 $7.72

-18.78%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.56 $2.56

11.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.75 $5.75

-8.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$6.54 $6.54

-2.29%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.66 $3.66

-12.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$3.91 $3.91

-2.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.99 $2.99

-8.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.48 $2.48

4.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$13.08 $13.08

-11.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$19.82 $19.82

-20.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.05 $2.05

40.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.82 $3.82

14.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$6.18 $6.18

-55.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$55.8 $55.8

77.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.98 $2.98

-10.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.36 $1.36

25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$21.70 $21.70

37.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.87 $0.87

31.03%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$29.9K $29.9K

9.95%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.6K $26.6K

-2.31%

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

$268 $268

$269 $269

-0.15%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$63.7 $63.7

-4.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$75.4 $75.4

1.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$29.43 $29.43

165.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

$17.30 $17.30

132.08%

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$14.86 $14.86

6.46%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$2,095 $2,095

7.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$43.5K $43.5K

-31.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$51.7 $51.7

36.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$42.09 $42.09

26.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$111 $111

5.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$172 $172

-19.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$2,358 $2,358

-2.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,538 $1,538

20.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$3,295 $3,295

43.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,563 $2,563

38.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$5,607 $5,607

38.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$5,652 $5,652

-5.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$3,510 $3,510

87.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.63

-3.17%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Newark, NJ: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $2,358 in Newark, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 87% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $89 in Newark, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $534 per month, with Newark, NJ cheaper across the board.

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, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Newark, NJ is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 87% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $2,358 in Newark, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Newark, NJ runs roughly 77% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,252 in Seattle, WA versus $2,095 in Newark, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Newark, NJ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Newark, NJ is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Newark, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.