What is the cost of living in Carteret, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Carteret has an overall cost of living index of 123, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Carteret has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Carteret ranks as #81 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Carteret ranks as the #181 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Carteret, check out:
Carteret Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Carteret. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Carteret is 104.
The Groceries index in Carteret is 112.
The Health index in Carteret is 159.
The Housing index in Carteret is 112.
The Transportation index in Carteret is 109.
The Utilities index in Carteret is 115.
| Living Expense | Carteret | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 123 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 159 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 113 | 100 |
Carteret 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 Carteret Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Carteret, 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 Carteret is $547,897.
The Median Rent in Carteret is $2,032.
The Median Income in Carteret is $96,862.
The Home Value To Income in Carteret is 5.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Carteret is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Carteret | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $547,897 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,032 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $96,862 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.7x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Carteret, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Carteret Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Carteret | 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 Carteret Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Carteret | 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 Carteret Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Carteret | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $157.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $115.59 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $124.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Carteret Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Carteret | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $82.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Carteret Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Carteret | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $236.04 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Carteret SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Carteret
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Carteret. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Perth Amboy, NJ has a cost of living index of 120, 1.0x Carteret.
Linden, NJ has a cost of living index of 126, 1.0x Carteret.
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 182, 1.5x Carteret.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Carteret |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perth Amboy, NJ | 55,855 | 120 | 1.0x |
| Linden, NJ | 44,192 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.5x |
| Rahway, NJ | 30,109 | 118 | 1.0x |
| Roselle, NJ | 22,646 | 117 | 1.0x |
| Woodbridge, NJ | 20,756 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Iselin, NJ | 19,551 | 131 | 1.1x |
| Colonia, NJ | 18,587 | 136 | 1.1x |
| Avenel, NJ | 17,121 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Middlesex, NJ | 14,645 | 128 | 1.0x |
