Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Toms River, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Toms River, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,886 in Seattle, WA versus $2,818 in Toms River, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,699 in Seattle, WA versus $4,252 in Toms River, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Seattle, WA versus $5,687 in Toms River, NJ.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 38% more expensive than in Toms River, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, Toms River, NJ 104% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$19.91 $19.91

27.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$74.8 $74.8

35.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$12.10 $12.10

22.31%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$5.41 $5.41

22.55%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.61 $2.61

18.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.82 $1.82

62.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$5.13 $5.13

54.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.14 $7.14

10.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.35 $1.35

-9.63%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.68 $4.68

9.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$2.44 $2.44

152.46%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$4.63 $4.63

9.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$16.42 $16.42

29.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$17.19 $17.19

7.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$16.32 $16.32

41.18%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.96 $5.96

1.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.35 $1.35

39.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.99 $4.99

4.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$6.14 $6.14

3.75%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$1.51 $1.51

150.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.71 $2.71

21.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.45 $2.45

17.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.98 $1.98

34.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$9.80 $9.80

41.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$9.83 $9.83

53.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.76 $2.76

51.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.24 $3.24

74.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.99 $2.99

-14.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.14 $2.14

-22.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$42.19 $42.19

-30.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.88 $0.88

65.91%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$35.4K $35.4K

1.88%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$25.5K $25.5K

-0.06%

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

$306 $306

$243 $243

26.14%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$36.36 $36.36

92.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$62.2 $62.2

40.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$30.48 $30.48

162.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$17.50 $17.50

2.00%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$2,445 $2,445

23.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$33.8K $33.8K

-7.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$69.8 $69.8

9.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$77.3 $77.3

-30.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$118 $118

7.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$122 $122

33.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,649 $1,649

48.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,508 $1,508

31.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,831 $2,831

72.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$2,795 $2,795

29.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$5,455 $5,455

13.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.33

1.90%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Toms River, NJ: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,456 in Seattle, WA and $1,649 in Toms River, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 13% 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: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $75.0 in Toms River, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $551 vs $445 per month, with Toms River, 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 Toms River, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Toms River, NJ is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 13% 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: $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $1,649 in Toms River, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,018 in Seattle, WA versus $2,445 in Toms River, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Toms River, NJ – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $101 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. Toms River, NJ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Toms River, 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 Toms River, 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 Toms River, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.