What is the cost of living in Caldwell, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Caldwell has an overall cost of living index of 145, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Caldwell has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Caldwell ranks as #186 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Caldwell ranks as the #76 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Caldwell, check out:
Caldwell Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Caldwell. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Caldwell is 111.
The Groceries index in Caldwell is 111.
The Health index in Caldwell is 227.
The Housing index in Caldwell is 115.
The Transportation index in Caldwell is 109.
The Utilities index in Caldwell is 113.
| Living Expense | Caldwell | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 145 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 227 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 113 | 100 |
Caldwell Cost Of Living Compared To New Jersey Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New Jersey, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Caldwell Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Caldwell, NJ Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Jersey, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Caldwell is $724,634.
The Median Rent in Caldwell is $1,976.
The Median Income in Caldwell is $96,824.
The Home Value To Income in Caldwell is 7.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Caldwell is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Caldwell | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $724,634 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,976 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $96,824 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.5x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Caldwell, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Caldwell Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Caldwell | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.48 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.78 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.62 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $41.67 | $45.56 |
Detailed Caldwell Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Caldwell | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.65 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.71 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.37 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.33 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Caldwell Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Caldwell | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $157.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $115.59 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $124.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Caldwell Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Caldwell | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $82.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Caldwell Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Caldwell | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $236.04 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Caldwell SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Caldwell
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Caldwell. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 182, 1.3x Caldwell.
Florham Park, NJ has a cost of living index of 174, 1.2x Caldwell.
Woodland Park, NJ has a cost of living index of 135, 0.9x Caldwell.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Caldwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.3x |
| Florham Park, NJ | 13,564 | 174 | 1.2x |
| Woodland Park, NJ | 13,355 | 135 | 0.9x |
| Oakland, NJ | 12,768 | 149 | 1.0x |
| Upper Montclair, NJ | 12,457 | 184 | 1.3x |
| Glen Rock, NJ | 12,154 | 174 | 1.2x |
| Hasbrouck Heights, NJ | 12,115 | 140 | 1.0x |
| Totowa, NJ | 10,959 | 138 | 1.0x |
| Lincoln Park, NJ | 10,957 | 133 | 0.9x |
| Hillsdale, NJ | 10,144 | 155 | 1.1x |
