What is the cost of living in Clifton, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Clifton has an overall cost of living index of 132, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Clifton has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Clifton ranks as #126 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Clifton ranks as the #136 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Clifton, check out:
Clifton Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Clifton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Clifton is 107.
The Groceries index in Clifton is 116.
The Health index in Clifton is 181.
The Housing index in Clifton is 114.
The Transportation index in Clifton is 113.
The Utilities index in Clifton is 113.
| Living Expense | Clifton | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 132 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 181 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 114 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 113 | 100 |
Clifton 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 Clifton Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Clifton, 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 Clifton is $612,461.
The Median Rent in Clifton is $1,711.
The Median Income in Clifton is $98,237.
The Home Value To Income in Clifton is 6.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Clifton is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Clifton | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $612,461 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,711 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $98,237 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.2x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Clifton, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Clifton Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Clifton | 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 Clifton Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Clifton | 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 Clifton Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Clifton | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $157.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $115.59 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $124.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Clifton Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Clifton | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $82.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Clifton Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Clifton | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $236.04 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Clifton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Clifton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Clifton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Paterson, NJ has a cost of living index of 121, 0.9x Clifton.
Passaic, NJ has a cost of living index of 130, 1.0x Clifton.
Garfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 132, 1.0x Clifton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Clifton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paterson, NJ | 158,735 | 121 | 0.9x |
| Passaic, NJ | 70,002 | 130 | 1.0x |
| Garfield, NJ | 32,783 | 132 | 1.0x |
| Elmwood Park, NJ | 21,412 | 138 | 1.0x |
| Eastchester, NY | 20,491 | 168 | 1.3x |
| Rutherford, NJ | 18,894 | 147 | 1.1x |
| Woodland Park, NJ | 13,355 | 135 | 1.0x |
| Upper Montclair, NJ | 12,457 | 184 | 1.4x |
| Wallington, NJ | 11,889 | 137 | 1.0x |
| Dobbs Ferry, NY | 11,443 | 173 | 1.3x |
