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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,621 in Seattle, WA versus $4,036 in Somerset, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,548 in Seattle, WA versus $4,697 in Somerset, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,476 in Seattle, WA versus $5,358 in Somerset, NJ.

Living in Seattle, WA costs roughly 10% less than in Somerset, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 172% above, Somerset, NJ 203% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$20.35 $20.35

22.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$78.6 $78.6

50.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$12.54 $12.54

9.73%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$5.31 $5.31

10.17%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.47 $2.47

23.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.59 $2.59

-7.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$7.86 $7.86

0.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$10.08 $10.08

-22.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.12 $1.12

24.11%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.03 $4.03

20.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$8.39 $8.39

-38.26%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$4.16 $4.16

60.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$17.04 $17.04

48.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$16.36 $16.36

-2.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$20.34 $20.34

-0.88%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$7.39 $7.39

-16.24%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.46 $2.46

17.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$5.36 $5.36

2.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$5.89 $5.89

8.32%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.76 $2.76

11.96%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.69 $3.69

2.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.49 $2.49

12.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.47 $2.47

5.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$10.84 $10.84

5.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$15.22 $15.22

2.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.77 $1.77

68.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$3.71 $3.71

14.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.95 $1.95

37.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$4.97 $4.97

-46.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.61 $1.61

5.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$42.65 $42.65

-30.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.87 $0.87

31.03%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$30.0K $30.0K

11.11%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$27.1K $27.1K

-2.06%

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

$261 $261

$182 $182

43.71%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$49.44 $49.44

22.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$55.0 $55.0

37.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$42.60 $42.60

85.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$14.72 $14.72

7.47%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$1,824 $1,824

21.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$40.6K $40.6K

-26.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$65.7 $65.7

6.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$48.14 $48.14

8.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$113 $113

3.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$168 $168

-17.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$1,620 $1,620

43.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$2,614 $2,614

-28.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$2,587 $2,587

82.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$2,229 $2,229

60.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$2,753 $2,753

177.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$2,420 $2,420

108.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$4,905 $4,905

32.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.44

-0.31%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Somerset, NJ: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,321 in Seattle, WA and $1,620 in Somerset, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 33% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $79.0 in Somerset, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $542 vs $500 per month, with Somerset, 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 Somerset, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 33% 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: $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $1,620 in Somerset, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,210 in Seattle, WA versus $1,824 in Somerset, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Seattle, WA – a meal for two runs $118 versus $79.0 in Somerset, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

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

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Somerset, 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 Seattle, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Somerset, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.