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: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $2,451 in West Caldwell, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $3,665 in West Caldwell, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $4,878 in West Caldwell, NJ.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 49% more expensive than West Caldwell, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, West Caldwell, NJ 83% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$17.05 $17.05

48.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$74.0 $74.0

63.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$12.97 $12.97

8.79%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$4.89 $4.89

19.02%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.45 $2.45

21.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.17 $2.17

10.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$6.16 $6.16

25.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$7.18 $7.18

9.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.13 $1.13

18.58%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$6.08 $6.08

-19.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$8.61 $8.61

-40.30%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$5.70 $5.70

15.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$9.70 $9.70

154.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$10.15 $10.15

56.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$18.06 $18.06

11.52%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$6.78 $6.78

-7.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.18 $2.18

31.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.42 $4.42

19.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.91 $4.91

30.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$4.48 $4.48

-28.35%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$4.48 $4.48

-14.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.37 $2.37

15.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.24 $2.24

15.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$13.28 $13.28

-12.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$14.07 $14.07

12.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.91 $1.91

50.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.50 $3.50

25.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.96 $1.96

40.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$6.12 $6.12

-56.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.37 $1.37

24.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$28.97 $28.97

2.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.90 $0.90

26.67%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$29.2K $29.2K

12.62%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.89%

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

$268 $268

$75.8 $75.8

253.85%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$43.10 $43.10

41.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$56.2 $56.2

35.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$42.64 $42.64

83.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$12.78 $12.78

23.79%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,376 $1,376

63.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.4K $23.4K

26.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$37.95 $37.95

86.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$23.72 $23.72

124.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$76.5 $76.5

53.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$70.7 $70.7

96.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,596 $1,596

44.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,336 $1,336

38.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,578 $2,578

83.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,219 $2,219

60.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,871 $2,871

170.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,358 $2,358

126.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$3,051 $3,051

115.51%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for West Caldwell, NJ: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $1,596 in West Caldwell, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 116% 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: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $74 in West Caldwell, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $456 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 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 116% 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: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,596 in West Caldwell, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,252 in Seattle, WA versus $1,376 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 $74.0 versus $121 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. West Caldwell, NJ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 49% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.