Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and West Caldwell, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and West Caldwell, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,437 in West Caldwell, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,645 in West Caldwell, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $4,852 in West Caldwell, NJ.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 48% more expensive than West Caldwell, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, West Caldwell, NJ 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$16.67 $16.67

48.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$75.6 $75.6

55.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$13.04 $13.04

5.60%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.01 $5.01

13.97%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.41 $2.41

26.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.21 $2.21

13.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.07 $6.07

29.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.96 $6.96

13.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.17 $1.17

15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$6.19 $6.19

-18.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$8.89 $8.89

-39.37%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$5.49 $5.49

24.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$9.89 $9.89

153.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$10.17 $10.17

55.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$18.07 $18.07

13.95%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$6.42 $6.42

-4.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.14 $2.14

31.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.35 $4.35

26.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.86 $4.86

38.68%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$4.37 $4.37

-27.92%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$4.38 $4.38

-12.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.39 $2.39

12.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.23 $2.23

18.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$13.59 $13.59

-14.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$13.73 $13.73

14.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.85 $1.85

58.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.66 $3.66

15.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.06 $2.06

36.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$5.90 $5.90

-55.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.41 $1.41

21.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$29.25 $29.25

3.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.94 $0.94

26.60%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.4K $29.4K

11.33%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.37%

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

$263 $263

$74.0 $74.0

254.74%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$44.63 $44.63

36.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$56.0 $56.0

35.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$43.41 $43.41

83.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$12.62 $12.62

28.92%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,390 $1,390

64.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$23.3K $23.3K

25.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$37.93 $37.93

80.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$24.25 $24.25

114.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$76.2 $76.2

51.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$69.4 $69.4

106.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,593 $1,593

46.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,362 $1,362

36.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,583 $2,583

79.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,251 $2,251

54.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,563 $2,563

203.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,379 $2,379

119.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,039 $3,039

117.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.57

-2.28%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for West Caldwell, NJ: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,593 in West Caldwell, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 118% 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 $76.0 in West Caldwell, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $455 per month, with West Caldwell, 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 West Caldwell, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

West Caldwell, NJ is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 118% 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 $1,593 in West Caldwell, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $1,390 in West Caldwell, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in West Caldwell, NJ – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,437 in West Caldwell, NJ versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in West Caldwell, NJ but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes West Caldwell, NJ the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, West Caldwell, 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 West Caldwell, 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 West Caldwell, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.