Cost of Living Comparison Between Woodbridge, NJ and Waltham, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Woodbridge, NJ and Waltham, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,475 in Woodbridge, NJ versus $3,969 in Waltham, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,980 in Woodbridge, NJ versus $6,092 in Waltham, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,486 in Woodbridge, NJ versus $8,215 in Waltham, MA.

Living in Woodbridge, NJ costs roughly 12% less than in Waltham, MA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Woodbridge, NJ 159% above, Waltham, MA 196% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.62 $19.62

$18.97 $18.97

3.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.8 $99.8

$98.7 $98.7

1.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.44 $12.44

$11.03 $11.03

12.78%

Cappuccino

$5.39 $5.39

$4.60 $4.60

17.17%

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

$2.47 $2.47

$2.74 $2.74

-9.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.13 $2.13

-12.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$6.18 $6.18

15.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.16 $8.16

$7.55 $7.55

8.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.27 $1.27

4.72%

White Bread (500g)

$3.71 $3.71

$3.34 $3.34

11.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.33 $6.33

$3.98 $3.98

59.05%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$4.79 $4.79

2.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.53 $21.53

$16.49 $16.49

30.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.64 $12.64

$10.61 $10.61

19.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.41 $17.41

$20.42 $20.42

-14.74%

Apples (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.71 $5.71

6.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.22 $2.22

-22.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.77 $5.77

$5.92 $5.92

-2.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.41 $6.41

$7.89 $7.89

-18.76%

Potato (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$4.35 $4.35

20.23%

Onion (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$2.38 $2.38

101.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.85 $2.85

-7.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.46 $1.46

76.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.90 $11.90

$11.05 $11.05

7.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$14.73 $14.73

2.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.14 $2.14

-17.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.13 $6.13

$2.96 $2.96

107.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.29 $2.29

-10.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$121 $121

$60.0 $60.0

101.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.55 $2.55

17.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.71 $1.71

11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.25 $42.25

$28.41 $28.41

48.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$0.84 $0.84

14.29%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$29.4K $29.4K

3.39%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.4K $25.4K

-1.34%

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

$137 $137

$323 $323

-57.71%

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

$60.6 $60.6

$56.8 $56.8

6.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.7 $69.7

$79.2 $79.2

-11.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.81 $34.81

$42.18 $42.18

-17.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.29 $35.29

Cinema Ticket

$20.28 $20.28

$14.95 $14.95

35.65%

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

$1,480 $1,480

$1,525 $1,525

-2.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.7K $17.7K

$27.0K $27.0K

-34.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.8 $61.8

$67.0 $67.0

-7.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.5 $59.5

$32.13 $32.13

85.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$65.2 $65.2

72.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 $133

$83.6 $83.6

58.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,158 $2,158

$2,715 $2,715

-20.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,007 $2,007

$2,516 $2,516

-20.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,213 $3,213

$4,285 $4,285

-25.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,970 $2,970

$4,942 $4,942

-39.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,647 $2,647

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,404 $2,404

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,039 $7,039

$5,076 $5,076

38.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

6.43

2.95%

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

Last update for Woodbridge, NJ: June 2, 2026

Last update for Waltham, MA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,158 in Woodbridge, NJ and $2,715 in Waltham, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Woodbridge, NJ pays 39% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $100 in Woodbridge, NJ vs $99.0 in Waltham, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $489 vs $443 per month, with Waltham, MA 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

Woodbridge, NJ vs Waltham, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Woodbridge, NJ wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Waltham, MA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Woodbridge, NJ the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Woodbridge, NJ pays 39% 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: $2,158 in Woodbridge, NJ versus $2,715 in Waltham, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,480 in Woodbridge, NJ versus $1,525 in Waltham, MA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Waltham, MA pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Woodbridge, NJ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Woodbridge, NJ delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,475 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Woodbridge, NJ hard to pass up.

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