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: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $3,016 in Newark, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $4,549 in Newark, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $6,082 in Newark, NJ.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 27% more expensive than in Newark, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Newark, NJ 120% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$20.26 $20.26

21.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$101 $101

-2.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$13.32 $13.32

13.29%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$6.45 $6.45

2.64%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$4.01 $4.01

-21.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.52 $2.52

18.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$8.04 $8.04

1.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$9.81 $9.81

-19.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.33 $1.33

-12.03%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.72 $4.72

10.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$7.02 $7.02

-8.83%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$5.82 $5.82

-15.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$7.04 $7.04

204.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$14.90 $14.90

24.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$20.24 $20.24

13.88%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$6.12 $6.12

-5.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$3.37 $3.37

-44.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.62 $5.62

-4.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$6.15 $6.15

2.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.45 $3.45

10.14%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$4.06 $4.06

-19.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.69 $2.69

6.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.47 $2.47

9.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$11.95 $11.95

18.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$19.67 $19.67

-23.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.92 $1.92

127.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$2.73 $2.73

110.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$5.95 $5.95

-48.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

$55.2 $55.2

99.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.08 $3.08

-16.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.12 $2.12

-22.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$42.50 $42.50

-29.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.02 $1.02

35.29%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.9K $35.9K

1.43%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-4.22%

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

$296 $296

$203 $203

45.54%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$71.8 $71.8

-0.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$74.9 $74.9

17.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$29.81 $29.81

173.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

$17.68 $17.68

101.92%

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$14.58 $14.58

25.72%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$2,133 $2,133

43.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$61.3K $61.3K

-50.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$59.3 $59.3

29.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$27.86 $27.86

93.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$114 $114

11.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$126 $126

30.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$2,318 $2,318

4.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,541 $1,541

25.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$4,221 $4,221

12.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$2,609 $2,609

37.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$5,541 $5,541

33.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$5,546 $5,546

-8.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$3,590 $3,590

76.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.4

0.31%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Newark, NJ: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $2,318 in Newark, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 76% 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: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $101 in Newark, NJ. Groceries flip the comparison at $554 vs $486, with Newark, NJ cheaper for home cooking.

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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 76% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $2,318 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 99% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $3,067 in Seattle, WA versus $2,133 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 27% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.