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: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $2,850 in Trenton, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $4,194 in Trenton, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $5,537 in Trenton, NJ.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 25% more expensive than in Trenton, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Trenton, NJ 113% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$29.44 $29.44

-15.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$79.8 $79.8

48.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$15.22 $15.22

-7.03%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.23 $5.23

9.18%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$3.06 $3.06

-4.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.56 $2.56

-1.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$8.16 $8.16

-3.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.90 $7.90

1.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.09 $1.09

24.77%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.13 $4.13

22.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$8.17 $8.17

-35.74%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$4.12 $4.12

67.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$17.48 $17.48

42.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$16.44 $16.44

-4.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$19.92 $19.92

4.02%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$7.55 $7.55

-18.01%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.42 $2.42

15.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.37 $5.37

2.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$6.39 $6.39

0.47%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.78 $2.78

13.67%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.59 $3.59

8.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.50 $2.50

8.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.50 $2.50

1.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$11.07 $11.07

2.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$8.07 $8.07

94.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.76 $1.76

63.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.75 $3.75

13.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.03 $2.03

33.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$4.92 $4.92

-47.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$2.11 $2.11

-22.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$42.40 $42.40

-30.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.98 $0.98

16.33%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$30.0K $30.0K

9.30%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.1K $26.1K

1.40%

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

$264 $264

$178 $178

47.76%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$60.0 $60.0

2.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$63.3 $63.3

19.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$42.99 $42.99

81.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$15.18 $15.18

6.13%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,889 $1,889

17.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$40.3K $40.3K

-28.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$66.6 $66.6

4.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$48.32 $48.32

11.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$140 $140

-15.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$168 $168

-15.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,579 $1,579

49.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,330 $1,330

37.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$2,672 $2,672

75.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$2,198 $2,198

62.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$3,129 $3,129

140.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$3,153 $3,153

60.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$3,323 $3,323

94.80%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Trenton, NJ: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $1,579 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $80.0 in Trenton, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $489 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 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 95% 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: $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,579 in Trenton, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,212 in Seattle, WA versus $1,889 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 $119 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 25% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.