Cost of Living in New Jersey
Updated November 2026 · population 9,343,809
New Jersey prices are 8.8% above the US average (index 108.8), ranking 4th most expensive of 51 states and DC; housing is the biggest cost driver at 134.3, and a single adult's modelled budget at state-average prices is about $3,126 a month.
Prices by category
New Jersey price index by category, US average = 100: All items 108.8, Housing (rents) 134.3, Goods 107.1, Utilities 114.2, Other services 103.5
| Area | All items |
|---|---|
| New Jersey (whole state) | 108.8 |
| Metropolitan areas of New Jersey | 108.8 |
| New Jersey has no nonmetropolitan area in the BEA data. | |
Cities in New Jersey
Select a column heading to sort.
| Newark | 310,178 | 107.5 | $2,722 | $5,816 | $1,392 | $373,700 |
| Jersey City | 294,078 | 116.0 | $3,709 | $6,392 | $2,007 | $566,900 |
| Paterson | 158,735 | 109.7 | $2,868 | $5,858 | $1,548 | $360,100 |
| Elizabeth | 137,302 | 109.3 | $2,978 | $6,066 | $1,523 | $449,300 |
| Toms River | 94,956 | 112.2 | $3,124 | $6,471 | $1,731 | $403,600 |
| Trenton | 90,338 | 99.3 | $2,553 | $5,443 | $1,294 | $160,700 |
| Clifton | 89,379 | 111.9 | $3,208 | $6,360 | $1,711 | $461,900 |
| Bayonne | 71,553 | 111.5 | $3,108 | $6,181 | $1,682 | $460,100 |
| Camden | 71,496 | 99.1 | $2,470 | $5,192 | $1,226 | $112,000 |
| East Orange | 70,090 | 108.2 | $2,917 | $6,063 | $1,441 | $365,900 |
| Passaic | 70,002 | 108.5 | $2,909 | $5,887 | $1,465 | $429,900 |
| Lakewood | 69,585 | 112.0 | $2,790 | $5,954 | $1,718 | $715,500 |
| Union City | 66,463 | 109.5 | $3,160 | $5,999 | $1,537 | $471,600 |
| Vineland | 61,006 | 95.5 | $2,537 | $5,459 | $1,233 | $240,700 |
| Hoboken resort/outlier | 58,668 | 129.0 | $4,172 | $7,903 | $2,938 | $895,100 |
| New Brunswick | 56,345 | 113.4 | $3,320 | $6,282 | $1,814 | $353,800 |
| Perth Amboy | 55,855 | 111.6 | $2,974 | $6,012 | $1,688 | $370,600 |
| Plainfield | 55,236 | 112.7 | $3,119 | $6,235 | $1,767 | $410,800 |
| West New York | 52,004 | 112.0 | $3,372 | $6,096 | $1,716 | $465,600 |
Metro areas in New Jersey
| Metro area | All items | Housing |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 112.6 | 148.6 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 103.2 | 135.1 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 102.6 | 113.1 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 100.0 | 105.5 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 98.9 | 98.7 |
| Vineland, NJ | 96.0 | 83.9 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for metropolitan statistical areas that include part of New Jersey.
Modelled monthly budget at New Jersey average prices
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for New Jersey (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,318 | $15,816 | 42% |
| Utilities | $291 | $3,492 | 9% |
| Food at home | $302 | $3,624 | 10% |
| Transportation | $674 | $8,088 | 22% |
| Health care | $364 | $4,368 | 12% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $177 | $2,124 | 6% |
| Total | $3,126 | $37,512 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for New Jersey (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,623 | $19,476 | 32% |
| Utilities | $464 | $5,568 | 9% |
| Food at home | $558 | $6,696 | 11% |
| Transportation | $1,335 | $16,020 | 27% |
| Health care | $674 | $8,088 | 13% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $350 | $4,200 | 7% |
| Total | $5,004 | $60,048 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for New Jersey (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,832 | $21,984 | 30% |
| Utilities | $564 | $6,768 | 9% |
| Food at home | $795 | $9,540 | 13% |
| Transportation | $1,774 | $21,288 | 29% |
| Health care | $628 | $7,536 | 10% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $451 | $5,412 | 7% |
| Total | $6,044 | $72,528 | 100% |
state figures Rents are Census ACS state medians by bedrooms. See the methodology.
Electricity and gas and inflation
Residential electricity
24.61¢/kWh, August 2026
12-month change −0.4% · US 18.16¢
Regular gasoline regional figure: Central Atlantic (PADD 1B)
$4.23/gal, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change +38.3% · US $4.15
Consumer prices in the Northeast region rose +4.2% over the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%; BLS CPI-U).
Price level history
| Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 111.2 | 110.7 | 109.2 | 108.8 | 108.9 | 108.8 |
Change over the period: −2.4 points. Each year is measured relative to that year's US average.
Frequently asked questions
Is New Jersey an expensive state to live in?
New Jersey has a cost of living index of 108.8 (US = 100), 8.8% above the US average. It ranks 4th of 51 (1 = most expensive). Housing is 134.3 (rank 3), goods 107.1, utilities 114.2 and other services 103.5. Source: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
How much does it cost to live in New Jersey?
At New Jersey state-average prices, our modelled monthly budget is $3,126 for a single adult, $5,004 for a couple and $6,044 for a family of four, before taxes and child care. Costs vary widely within the state.
What is the median rent and home value in New Jersey?
The median gross rent in New Jersey is $1,720 a month and the median home value is $454,400 (Census ACS 2020-2024). The typical renter spends 30.9% of income on rent.
Sources
- BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 (state, state metro and nonmetro portions, MSAs).
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, state 34.
- EIA-861M residential electricity (August 2026); EIA weekly retail gasoline (Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), 2026-11-02).
- BLS CPI-U, Northeast region (September 2026).
Budgets are modelled estimates, not observed spending. Not financial advice. Methodology