Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,654 in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,940 in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,226 in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 36% more than Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$14.75 $14.75

68.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$40.30 $40.30

192.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$11.87 $11.87

16.01%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.45 $4.45

28.31%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.04 $2.04

49.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.05 $2.05

21.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.02 $6.02

30.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$5.88 $5.88

34.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.10 $1.10

22.73%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.10 $4.10

23.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.58 $2.58

108.91%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.57 $3.57

91.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$13.36 $13.36

87.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$6.71 $6.71

136.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$14.53 $14.53

41.71%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$2.59 $2.59

137.07%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.19 $1.19

136.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$2.72 $2.72

102.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$2.92 $2.92

130.82%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.23 $2.23

41.26%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.26 $2.26

69.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.03 $1.03

161.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$0.49 $0.49

438.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$10.92 $10.92

6.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.24 $15.24

2.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.75 $1.75

67.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$1.98 $1.98

114.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.05 $2.05

37.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$96.2 $96.2

4.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.03 $2.03

28.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.64 $1.64

4.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$42.82 $42.82

-29.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.80 $0.80

48.75%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.5K $29.5K

10.93%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.6K $24.6K

6.23%

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

$263 $263

$179 $179

46.56%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$45.82 $45.82

32.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$40.12 $40.12

89.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$42.22 $42.22

88.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$11.96 $11.96

36.04%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,867 $1,867

22.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$40.5K $40.5K

-27.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$32.85 $32.85

108.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$46.78 $46.78

11.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$96.1 $96.1

20.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$132 $132

8.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,802 $1,802

29.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,510 $1,510

23.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$3,179 $3,179

45.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,852 $2,852

21.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$3,061 $3,061

153.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,469 $2,469

111.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$7,364 $7,364

-10.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.35

1.10%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,802 in Parsippany-Troy Hills, 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 11% higher in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Seattle, WA versus $40.00 in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $304 – making Parsippany-Troy Hills, 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 Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,397 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,981 in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 4% less in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,281 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,867 in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ. 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 $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,654 in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Parsippany-Troy Hills, 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.