Cost of Living Comparison Between Somerset, NJ and Niigata Cost of Living Comparison Between Somerset, NJ and Niigata

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,069 in Somerset, NJ versus $757 in Niigata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,464 in Somerset, NJ versus $1,138 in Niigata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,858 in Somerset, NJ versus $1,519 in Niigata.

Living in Somerset, NJ is roughly 438% more expensive than in Niigata, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Somerset, NJ is 196% above, Niigata is 45% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.73 $17.73

$6.17 ¥960

187.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.63 $39.63

$15.59 ¥2,427

154.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.90 $7.90

$4.90 ¥763

61.22%

Cappuccino

$5.07 $5.07

$2.54 ¥395

99.61%

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

$1.96 $1.96

$1.59 ¥248

23.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.76 ¥118

101.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.23 $8.23

$2.43 ¥378

238.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.03 $7.03

$2.67 ¥416

163.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.21 ¥188

9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$4.39 $4.39

$0.90 ¥140

387.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.96 $5.96

$2.51 ¥391

137.45%

Eggs

$2.04 $2.04

$2.29 ¥357

-10.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.15 $13.15

$7.34 ¥1,143

79.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.35 $10.35

$7.51 ¥1,169

37.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.51 $19.51

$18.98 ¥2,954

2.79%

Apples (1kg)

$6.22 $6.22

$3.22 ¥501

93.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.29 ¥200

122.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.56 ¥399

63.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$2.24 ¥349

131.25%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$1.85 ¥287

62.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.51 $3.51

$1.86 ¥289

88.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.98 ¥152

152.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$0.61 ¥95.5

401.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.34 $17.34

$3.77 ¥587

359.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.15 $15.15

$4.50 ¥700

236.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.77 ¥276

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 $3.56

$1.90 ¥296

87.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.26 ¥196

63.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.58 ¥402

18.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$3.18 ¥494

-30.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.94 $41.94

$18.58 ¥2,893

125.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.10 ¥171

-8.18%

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

$35.1K $35.1K

$18.9K ¥2.9M

85.69%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$12.7K ¥2.0M

96.75%

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

$227 $227

$154 ¥24.0K

47.12%

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

$51.7 $51.7

$22.73 ¥3,537

127.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.6 $50.6

$24.98 ¥3,888

102.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.59 $41.59

$51.8 ¥8,057

-19.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.13 ¥954

Cinema Ticket

$20.28 $20.28

$11.79 ¥1,834

72.01%

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

$1,783 $1,783

$63.3 ¥9,856

2716.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K $15.8K

$18.0K ¥2.8M

-12.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.8 $77.8

$31.51 ¥4,905

146.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.07 $40.07

$31.92 ¥4,968

25.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$37.93 ¥5,904

234.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$167 $167

$62.3 ¥9,695

168.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,612 $1,612

$350 ¥54.4K

360.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,603 $2,603

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,464 $2,464

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,096 $2,096

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,765 $2,765

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,379 $2,379

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,273 ¥198.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.3

1.48

325.68%

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

Last update for Somerset, NJ: September 1, 2026

Last update for Niigata: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Somerset, NJ and $350 in Niigata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Somerset, NJ vs $16.00 in Niigata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $439 vs $244 per month, with Niigata 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

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

Somerset, NJ and Niigata differ by about 438% in total monthly costs ($4,069 vs $757 including rent). Niigata is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $6,104 in Somerset, NJ and $1,135 in Niigata to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Somerset, NJ versus $350 in Niigata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 80% higher in Somerset, NJ. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $4,069 per month in Somerset, NJ versus $757 in Niigata – a 438% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $757 in Niigata versus $4,069 in Somerset, NJ, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Niigata but tight or insufficient in Somerset, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Niigata the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Niigata 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 Niigata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 438% less than in Somerset, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.