Cost of Living Comparison Between Somerset, NJ and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Somerset, NJ and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,099 in Somerset, NJ versus $3,583 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,765 in Somerset, NJ versus $5,632 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,432 in Somerset, NJ versus $7,681 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Somerset, NJ is roughly 14% more expensive than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Somerset, NJ 206% above, Seattle, WA 168% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.34 $20.34

$24.97 $24.97

-18.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.5 $78.5

$119 $119

-34.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.48 $12.48

$13.90 $13.90

-10.22%

Cappuccino

$5.22 $5.22

$5.56 $5.56

-6.12%

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

$2.56 $2.56

$3.06 $3.06

-16.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.47 $2.47

9.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.86 $7.86

$7.96 $7.96

-1.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.92 $9.92

$8.01 $8.01

23.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.34 $1.34

-15.67%

White Bread (500g)

$4.07 $4.07

$5.05 $5.05

-19.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.00 $8.00

$5.36 $5.36

49.25%

Eggs

$4.20 $4.20

$6.59 $6.59

-36.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.04 $17.04

$25.31 $25.31

-32.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.43 $16.43

$16.19 $16.19

1.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.89 $19.89

$20.30 $20.30

-2.02%

Apples (1kg)

$7.28 $7.28

$5.97 $5.97

21.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.74 $2.74

-8.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$5.36 $5.36

-2.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.92 $5.92

$6.61 $6.61

-10.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.25 $3.25

-15.08%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 $3.59

$3.79 $3.79

-5.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.73 $2.73

-4.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.89 $10.89

$11.31 $11.31

-3.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$16.28 $16.28

-6.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.85 $2.85

-40.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 $3.83

$4.16 $4.16

-7.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.69 $2.69

-26.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.1 $97.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.85 $4.85

$2.71 $2.71

78.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.73 $1.73

-8.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.48 $42.48

$29.46 $29.46

44.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.20 $1.20

-30.83%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$33.6K $33.6K

-9.41%

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

$27.0K $27.0K

$26.0K $26.0K

3.62%

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

$177 $177

$266 $266

-33.47%

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

$50.1 $50.1

$60.4 $60.4

-17.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.1 $56.1

$76.2 $76.2

-26.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.82 $43.82

$79.2 $79.2

-44.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.51 $40.51

Cinema Ticket

$15.28 $15.28

$16.22 $16.22

-5.80%

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

$1,887 $1,887

$2,280 $2,280

-17.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.8K $40.8K

$29.6K $29.6K

37.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.0 $66.0

$69.6 $69.6

-5.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.19 $47.19

$52.6 $52.6

-10.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 $112

$120 $120

-5.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$167 $167

$143 $143

17.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,588 $1,588

$2,378 $2,378

-33.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,684 $2,684

$1,866 $1,866

43.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,587 $2,587

$4,724 $4,724

-45.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,257 $2,257

$3,510 $3,510

-35.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,707 $2,707

$7,711 $7,711

-64.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,334 $2,334

$5,381 $5,381

-56.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,964 $4,964

$6,493 $6,493

-23.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.42

0.31%

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

Last update for Somerset, NJ: April 27, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,588 in Somerset, NJ and $2,378 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 31% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $79.0 in Somerset, NJ vs $119 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $499 vs $544 per month, with Somerset, 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

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

Seattle, WA is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Seattle, WA earns 31% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,588 in Somerset, NJ versus $2,378 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,887 in Somerset, NJ versus $2,280 in Seattle, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Seattle, WA – a meal for two runs $119 versus $79.0 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. Seattle, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Seattle, WA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Somerset, NJ, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Somerset, NJ and Seattle, WA 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 Seattle, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Somerset, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.