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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,815 in Trenton, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $4,223 in Trenton, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,632 in Trenton, NJ.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$29.89 $29.89

-17.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$79.6 $79.6

47.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$15.27 $15.27

-9.82%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.10 $5.10

11.96%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.95 $2.95

3.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.67 $2.67

-6.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$8.09 $8.09

-3.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$8.16 $8.16

-3.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.12 $1.12

20.54%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.93 $3.93

28.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$8.13 $8.13

-33.70%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.25 $4.25

61.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$17.22 $17.22

45.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$16.37 $16.37

-3.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$19.84 $19.84

3.78%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$7.52 $7.52

-18.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.43 $2.43

16.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$5.22 $5.22

5.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$6.50 $6.50

3.69%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.76 $2.76

14.13%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.61 $3.61

5.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.50 $2.50

7.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.46 $2.46

7.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$10.88 $10.88

7.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$7.86 $7.86

99.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.72 $1.72

70.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.84 $3.84

10.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.04 $2.04

38.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$5.11 $5.11

-49.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.13 $2.13

-19.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$41.32 $41.32

-26.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.98 $0.98

21.43%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.6K $29.6K

10.60%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.08%

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

$263 $263

$179 $179

46.40%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$60.8 $60.8

0.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$63.4 $63.4

19.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$42.98 $42.98

85.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$15.03 $15.03

8.25%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,852 $1,852

23.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$40.2K $40.2K

-27.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$66.7 $66.7

2.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$49.01 $49.01

6.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$141 $141

-17.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$172 $172

-16.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,629 $1,629

43.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,333 $1,333

39.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,638 $2,638

75.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,191 $2,191

58.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$3,145 $3,145

146.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$3,052 $3,052

71.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,394 $3,394

94.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.55

-1.98%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Trenton, NJ: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,629 in Trenton, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 95% 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 $80.0 in Trenton, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $486 per month, with Trenton, 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 Trenton, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Trenton, NJ is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 95% 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 $1,629 in Trenton, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $1,852 in Trenton, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Trenton, NJ – a meal for two runs $80.0 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 $3,000. Trenton, NJ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Trenton, 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.

Expats usually find Trenton, 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.