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: $4,052 in Somerset, NJ versus $1,113 in Niigata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,762 in Somerset, NJ versus $1,838 in Niigata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,473 in Somerset, NJ versus $2,564 in Niigata.

Living in Somerset, NJ is roughly 264% more expensive than in Niigata, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Somerset, NJ is 203% above, Niigata is 17% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$5.47 ¥890

258.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.4 $78.4

$49.22 ¥7,999

59.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.63 $12.63

$5.66 ¥921

123.14%

Cappuccino

$5.10 $5.10

$2.05 ¥334

148.78%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$1.22 ¥198

109.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$0.74 ¥119

245.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.02 $8.02

$2.70 ¥438

197.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.98 $9.98

$3.40 ¥552

193.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.33 ¥215

-15.04%

White Bread (500g)

$3.99 $3.99

$1.18 ¥191

238.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.09 $8.09

$3.43 ¥558

135.86%

Eggs

$4.26 $4.26

$2.34 ¥380

82.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$7.58 ¥1,232

129.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.45 $16.45

$5.74 ¥933

186.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.43 $20.43

$22.97 ¥3,733

-11.06%

Apples (1kg)

$7.55 $7.55

$4.07 ¥662

85.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.55 ¥415

-4.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$3.13 ¥509

69.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$2.85 ¥464

116.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.38 ¥387

13.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.20 ¥357

62.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.61 $2.61

$1.03 ¥168

153.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$0.86 ¥139

195.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.99 $10.99

$4.11 ¥668

167.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.12 $15.12

$4.39 ¥713

244.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.97 ¥320

-10.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.74 ¥445

35.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.78 ¥289

14.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.0 ¥9,107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.10 $5.10

$2.76 ¥449

84.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$2.78 ¥452

-42.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.55 $41.55

$20.48 ¥3,328

102.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.16 ¥189

-23.28%

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

$29.8K $29.8K

$16.0K ¥2.6M

86.75%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$15.7K ¥2.6M

72.33%

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

$178 $178

$164 ¥26.6K

8.27%

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

$50.5 $50.5

$26.91 ¥4,373

87.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.7 $55.7

$32.99 ¥5,361

68.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.21 $42.21

$60.4 ¥9,819

-30.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.31 ¥1,676

Cinema Ticket

$14.79 $14.79

$13.24 ¥2,151

11.71%

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

$1,885 $1,885

$85.4 ¥13.9K

2106.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.5K $39.5K

$15.4K ¥2.5M

156.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.3 $68.3

$41.58 ¥6,758

64.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.90 $47.90

$20.71 ¥3,366

131.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$38.85 ¥6,314

196.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$170 $170

$56.8 ¥9,230

198.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,605 $1,605

$384 ¥62.4K

317.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,648 $2,648

$279 ¥45.4K

848.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,600 $2,600

$851 ¥138.3K

205.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,197 $2,197

$663 ¥107.7K

231.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,666 $2,666

$4,134 ¥671.9K

-35.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,360 $2,360

$2,143 ¥348.3K

10.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,952 $4,952

$1,245 ¥202.4K

297.71%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Niigata: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,605 in Somerset, NJ and $384 in Niigata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Somerset, NJ pays 298% 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 $504 vs $281 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 ($4,052 vs $1,113 including rent). Niigata is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 298% higher in Somerset, NJ, 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: $1,605 in Somerset, NJ versus $384 in Niigata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 79% higher in Somerset, NJ. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $4,052 per month in Somerset, NJ versus $1,113 in Niigata – a 264% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,113 in Niigata versus $4,052 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.