Is it cheaper to live in Paterson or Seattle?

Paterson, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Paterson than in Seattle?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Paterson versus $74,000 in Seattle.

Which has lower taxes, Paterson or Seattle?

Paterson is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Paterson vs Seattle Cost of Living 2026

Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/mo est.

Seattle

Washington

$2,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,430 in Paterson, NJ versus $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Paterson, NJ is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,766 in Paterson, NJ and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 56% higher in Seattle, WA. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Paterson, NJ

Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio

$786

$1,638

+108% in Seattle, WA

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,858

+57% in Seattle, WA

2 Bedroom

$1,468

$2,359

+61% in Seattle, WA

3 Bedroom

$1,729

$2,918

+69% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$335,400

$912,100

+172% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$53,766

$121,984

+127% in Seattle, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,430

$72,610

+18% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.3 yr

35.5 yr

+2.2 yr in Seattle, WA

Homeownership

26.2%

44.2%

+18.0 pp in Seattle, WA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

12.5%

67.5%

+55.0 pp in Seattle, WA

Avg Commute

23.1 min

26.6 min

+3.5 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,010.1

788.6

+22% in Paterson, NJ

Property Crime

2,391.4

5,108.8

+114% in Seattle, WA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.2°F

53.5°F

+1.3°F in Seattle, WA

Annual Precipitation

49.0 in

37.7 in

+11.3 in in Paterson, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.41/gal

+37% in Seattle, WA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs King County Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.9

14.9

+40% in Paterson, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.68

$21.34

+21% in Seattle, WA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Seattle, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Seattle, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Seattle, WA

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Paterson, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

Average prices — Northeast vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / WA)

6.625%

6.5%

+0.1 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

10.75%

None

+10.8 pp in NJ

Paterson vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Paterson or Seattle?: Paterson, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Paterson than in Seattle?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Paterson versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Paterson or Seattle?: Paterson is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).