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: $4,081 in Somerset, NJ versus $1,122 in Niigata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,747 in Somerset, NJ versus $1,852 in Niigata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,413 in Somerset, NJ versus $2,581 in Niigata.

Living in Somerset, NJ is roughly 264% more expensive than Niigata, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Somerset, NJ is 205% above, Niigata is 16% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.76 $19.76

$5.65 ¥904

249.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.5 $78.5

$48.78 ¥7,804

60.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$5.49 ¥878

124.41%

Cappuccino

$5.08 $5.08

$2.06 ¥330

146.60%

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

$2.51 $2.51

$1.21 ¥193

107.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 $2.68

$0.79 ¥126

239.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$2.82 ¥451

182.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.92 $9.92

$3.44 ¥551

188.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.31 ¥210

-12.98%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$1.20 ¥192

245.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.23 $8.23

$3.35 ¥536

145.67%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$2.42 ¥387

79.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.65 $17.65

$7.76 ¥1,241

127.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.57 $16.57

$5.94 ¥950

178.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.35 $20.35

$22.94 ¥3,671

-11.29%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$4.06 ¥649

86.45%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.57 ¥411

-5.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$3.16 ¥506

71.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$2.98 ¥477

102.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.27 ¥363

24.23%

Onion (1kg)

$3.63 $3.63

$2.26 ¥362

60.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.04 ¥166

138.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$0.83 ¥133

210.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.93 $10.93

$4.01 ¥642

172.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 $15.23

$4.27 ¥682

256.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.91 ¥306

-12.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 $3.70

$2.72 ¥436

36.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.84 ¥294

11.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.0 ¥8,800

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.94 $4.94

$2.89 ¥462

70.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$2.77 ¥443

-42.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.47 $41.47

$20.54 ¥3,286

101.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.22 ¥194

-31.15%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$16.2K ¥2.6M

85.68%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$15.9K ¥2.5M

68.29%

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

$179 $179

$162 ¥26.0K

10.37%

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

$49.89 $49.89

$26.95 ¥4,311

85.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.4 $55.4

$33.37 ¥5,338

66.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.58 $43.58

$60.1 ¥9,611

-27.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.25 ¥1,640

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 $15.10

$13.02 ¥2,082

15.98%

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

$1,894 $1,894

$86.1 ¥13.8K

2099.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.6K $39.6K

$15.5K ¥2.5M

156.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.4 $67.4

$41.76 ¥6,680

61.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.15 $47.15

$21.15 ¥3,384

122.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 $112

$37.60 ¥6,015

199.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 $171

$56.9 ¥9,098

200.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,618 $1,618

$388 ¥62.1K

316.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,676 $2,676

$279 ¥44.7K

857.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,632 $2,632

$851 ¥136.1K

209.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,204 $2,204

$665 ¥106.4K

231.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,731 $2,731

$4,514 ¥722.2K

-39.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 $2,339

$2,332 ¥373.0K

0.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,024 $5,024

$1,234 ¥197.5K

306.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

1.24

419.35%

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

Last update for Somerset, NJ: June 1, 2026

Last update for Niigata: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,618 in Somerset, NJ and $388 in Niigata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Somerset, NJ pays 307% 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 $49.00 in Niigata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $507 vs $282 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 264% in total monthly costs ($4,081 vs $1,122 including rent). Niigata is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Somerset, NJ pays 307% 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 $388 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 $4,081 per month in Somerset, NJ versus $1,122 in Niigata – a 264% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,122 in Niigata versus $4,081 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 264% less than in Somerset, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.