Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and North Brunswick, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and North Brunswick, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,543 in North Brunswick, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $3,719 in North Brunswick, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $4,895 in North Brunswick, NJ.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 51% more expensive than in North Brunswick, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, North Brunswick, NJ 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$20.14 $20.14

22.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$59.0 $59.0

67.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$12.06 $12.06

25.12%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$3.08 $3.08

114.94%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.71 $2.71

15.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.17 $1.17

154.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$6.69 $6.69

21.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.11 $6.11

28.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.11 $1.11

5.41%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$1.68 $1.68

209.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$5.70 $5.70

12.28%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$4.60 $4.60

6.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$13.17 $13.17

62.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$16.65 $16.65

11.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$15.92 $15.92

44.79%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$3.81 $3.81

51.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.90 $1.90

-1.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.35 $4.35

23.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$6.13 $6.13

2.77%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.33 $3.33

14.11%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.22 $3.22

1.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.36 $2.36

21.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.01 $2.01

34.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$18.03 $18.03

-16.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.52 $2.52

73.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$4.11 $4.11

39.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.00 $2.00

53.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.81 $2.81

-8.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$3.67 $3.67

-55.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$49.71 $49.71

-39.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.96 $0.96

43.75%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$28.4K $28.4K

28.48%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$26.1K $26.1K

-3.81%

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

$296 $296

$125 $125

136.33%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$47.80 $47.80

49.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$56.9 $56.9

54.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$36.59 $36.59

122.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$13.14 $13.14

39.50%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,431 $1,431

114.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$23.2K $23.2K

31.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$53.5 $53.5

43.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$49.65 $49.65

8.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$119 $119

7.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$132 $132

25.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,819 $1,819

32.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,370 $1,370

40.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,408 $2,408

97.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$1,870 $1,870

91.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,763 $2,763

167.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$2,228 $2,228

126.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.58

-2.43%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for North Brunswick, NJ: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,819 in North Brunswick, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $59.0 in North Brunswick, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $425 per month, with North Brunswick, 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 North Brunswick, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

North Brunswick, NJ is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 51% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,754 in Seattle, WA and $3,814 in North Brunswick, NJ to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,819 in North Brunswick, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,067 in Seattle, WA versus $1,431 in North Brunswick, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in North Brunswick, NJ – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

For families, North Brunswick, 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.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and North Brunswick, NJ are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find North Brunswick, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.