What is the cost of living in Chatham, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Chatham has an overall cost of living index of 190, which is 1.9x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Chatham has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Chatham ranks as #250 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Chatham ranks as the #12 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Chatham, check out:
Chatham Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Chatham. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Chatham is 107.
The Groceries index in Chatham is 112.
The Health index in Chatham is 373.
The Housing index in Chatham is 110.
The Transportation index in Chatham is 110.
The Utilities index in Chatham is 109.
| Living Expense | Chatham | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 190 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 373 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 110 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 110 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 113 | 100 |
Chatham 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 Chatham Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Chatham, 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 Chatham is $1,310,369.
The Median Rent in Chatham is $2,250.
The Median Income in Chatham is $241,500.
The Home Value To Income in Chatham is 5.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Chatham is 0.11x.
| Statistic | Chatham | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,310,369 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,250 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $241,500 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.4x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.11x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Chatham, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Chatham Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Chatham | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.44 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.15 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $25.03 | $18 |
| Haircut | $29.17 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.36 | $45.56 |
Detailed Chatham Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Chatham | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.64 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.55 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.74 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.21 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.66 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.66 | $3.7 |
Detailed Chatham Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Chatham | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $105.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $117.94 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $121.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Chatham Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Chatham | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $77.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Chatham Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Chatham | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $230.68 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Chatham SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Chatham
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Chatham. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Morristown, TN has a cost of living index of 91, 0.5x Chatham.
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 182, 1.0x Chatham.
Summit, NJ has a cost of living index of 190, 1.0x Chatham.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morristown, TN | 31,527 | 91 | 0.5x |
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.0x |
| Summit, NJ | 22,705 | 190 | 1.0x |
| Madison, NJ | 16,447 | 178 | 0.9x |
| Short Hills, NJ | 14,923 | 263 | 1.4x |
| Bradley Gardens, NJ | 14,165 | 152 | 0.8x |
| New Providence, NJ | 13,727 | 167 | 0.9x |
| Florham Park, NJ | 13,564 | 174 | 0.9x |
| Hasbrouck Heights, NJ | 12,115 | 140 | 0.7x |
| Martinsville, NJ | 11,559 | 166 | 0.9x |
