Cost of Living Comparison Between Somerset, NJ and Brunswick, ME Cost of Living Comparison Between Somerset, NJ and Brunswick, ME

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,081 in Somerset, NJ versus $2,664 in Brunswick, ME.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,747 in Somerset, NJ versus $3,807 in Brunswick, ME.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,413 in Somerset, NJ versus $4,950 in Brunswick, ME.

Living in Somerset, NJ is roughly 53% more expensive than Brunswick, ME, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Somerset, NJ 205% above, Brunswick, ME 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.76 $19.76

$29.93 $29.93

-33.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.5 $78.5

$121 $121

-34.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$12.09 $12.09

1.90%

Cappuccino

$5.08 $5.08

$6.16 $6.16

-17.53%

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

$2.51 $2.51

$2.80 $2.80

-10.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.40 $2.40

11.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$4.85 $4.85

64.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.92 $9.92

$8.22 $8.22

20.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.98 $0.98

16.33%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.22 $3.22

28.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.23 $8.23

$3.51 $3.51

134.47%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$2.50 $2.50

74.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.65 $17.65

$13.02 $13.02

35.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.57 $16.57

$10.58 $10.58

56.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.35 $20.35

$15.99 $15.99

27.27%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$3.46 $3.46

118.79%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.48 $1.48

63.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.43 $4.43

22.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$4.76 $4.76

26.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.31 $3.31

-14.80%

Onion (1kg)

$3.63 $3.63

$4.45 $4.45

-18.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.52 $2.52

-1.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.87 $1.87

37.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.93 $10.93

$9.05 $9.05

20.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 $15.23

$13.11 $13.11

16.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.40 $1.40

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 $3.70

$1.85 $1.85

100.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.05 $2.05

0.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.94 $4.94

$1.96 $1.96

152.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.58 $1.58

1.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.47 $41.47

$29.43 $29.43

40.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$29.8K $29.8K

0.92%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$37.3K $37.3K

-28.27%

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

$179 $179

$158 $158

13.52%

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

$49.89 $49.89

$54.4 $54.4

-8.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.4 $55.4

$80.9 $80.9

-31.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.58 $43.58

$43.30 $43.30

0.65%

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 $15.10

$14.69 $14.69

2.79%

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

$1,894 $1,894

$1,293 $1,293

46.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.6K $39.6K

$23.5K $23.5K

68.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.4 $67.4

$50.6 $50.6

33.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.15 $47.15

$76.1 $76.1

-38.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 $112

$124 $124

-9.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 $171

$134 $134

27.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,618 $1,618

$1,605 $1,605

0.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,676 $2,676

$1,379 $1,379

94.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,632 $2,632

$2,493 $2,493

5.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,204 $2,204

$1,765 $1,765

24.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,731 $2,731

$2,810 $2,810

-2.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 $2,339

$2,252 $2,252

3.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,024 $5,024

$4,700 $4,700

6.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.71

-4.02%

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

Last update for Somerset, NJ: June 1, 2026

Last update for Brunswick, ME: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,618 in Somerset, NJ and $1,605 in Brunswick, ME. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Somerset, NJ pays 7% 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: $78.0 in Somerset, NJ vs $121 in Brunswick, ME. Groceries flip the comparison at $507 vs $362, with Brunswick, ME cheaper for home cooking.

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

Somerset, NJ vs Brunswick, ME: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brunswick, ME is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Somerset, NJ pays 7% 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: $1,618 in Somerset, NJ versus $1,605 in Brunswick, ME. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,894 in Somerset, NJ versus $1,293 in Brunswick, ME. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Brunswick, ME – a meal for two runs $121 versus $78.0 in Somerset, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Brunswick, ME is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Somerset, NJ and Brunswick, ME 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 Brunswick, ME gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Somerset, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.