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: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,817 in Toms River, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $4,299 in Toms River, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,782 in Toms River, NJ.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 28% more expensive than Toms River, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Toms River, NJ 110% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$18.02 $18.02

37.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$81.1 $81.1

45.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$11.37 $11.37

21.11%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.00 $5.00

14.20%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.37 $2.37

28.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.26 $1.26

98.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.09 $5.09

53.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.43 $6.43

22.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.29 $1.29

4.65%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.99 $4.99

1.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.33 $2.33

131.33%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.46 $4.46

53.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$17.12 $17.12

46.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$16.72 $16.72

-5.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$16.29 $16.29

26.40%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.91 $5.91

3.89%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.36 $1.36

107.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$5.16 $5.16

6.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$6.55 $6.55

2.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.58 $1.58

99.37%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.71 $2.71

40.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.55 $2.55

5.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.04 $2.04

29.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$10.17 $10.17

14.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$9.80 $9.80

60.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$3.02 $3.02

-2.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.87 $3.87

9.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.05 $2.05

37.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.95 $4.95

-47.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.15 $2.15

-20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$42.83 $42.83

-29.44%

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

$34.4K $34.4K

-4.85%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$28.5K $28.5K

-8.36%

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

$263 $263

$178 $178

47.20%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$29.73 $29.73

104.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$62.1 $62.1

22.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$29.43 $29.43

170.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$14.75 $14.75

10.31%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$3,158 $3,158

-27.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$56.8K $56.8K

-48.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$66.0 $66.0

4.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$48.87 $48.87

6.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$112 $112

3.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$173 $173

-17.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,666 $1,666

40.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,473 $1,473

26.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,833 $2,833

63.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,854 $2,854

21.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,769 $4,769

38.75%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Toms River, NJ: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,666 in Toms River, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 39% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $81.0 in Toms River, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $452 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 39% more on average, 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,666 in Toms River, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $3,158 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 $81.0 versus $118 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 28% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.