What is the cost of living in Dunellen, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Dunellen has an overall cost of living index of 125, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Dunellen has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Dunellen ranks as #87 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Dunellen ranks as the #175 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Dunellen, check out:
Dunellen Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Dunellen. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Dunellen is 106.
The Groceries index in Dunellen is 115.
The Health index in Dunellen is 147.
The Housing index in Dunellen is 113.
The Transportation index in Dunellen is 112.
The Utilities index in Dunellen is 113.
| Living Expense | Dunellen | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 125 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 147 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 113 | 100 |
Dunellen 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 Dunellen Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Dunellen, 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 Dunellen is $526,650.
The Median Rent in Dunellen is $1,835.
The Median Income in Dunellen is $86,967.
The Home Value To Income in Dunellen is 6.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Dunellen is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Dunellen | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $526,650 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,835 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $86,967 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.1x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Dunellen, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Dunellen Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Dunellen | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.53 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.53 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.98 | $18 |
| Haircut | $30.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $53.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Dunellen Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Dunellen | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.13 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.7 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.32 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.59 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.12 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed Dunellen Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Dunellen | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.1 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $129.94 | $113.29 |
Detailed Dunellen Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Dunellen | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $72.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Dunellen Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Dunellen | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.08 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Dunellen SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Dunellen
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Dunellen. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Plainfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 122, 1.0x Dunellen.
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 182, 1.5x Dunellen.
South Plainfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 136, 1.1x Dunellen.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Dunellen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plainfield, NJ | 55,236 | 122 | 1.0x |
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.5x |
| South Plainfield, NJ | 24,473 | 136 | 1.1x |
| North Plainfield, NJ | 22,809 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Middlesex, NJ | 14,645 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Bradley Gardens, NJ | 14,165 | 152 | 1.2x |
| Florham Park, NJ | 13,564 | 174 | 1.4x |
| Bound Brook, NJ | 12,219 | 125 | 1.0x |
| Martinsville, NJ | 11,559 | 166 | 1.3x |
| Bernardsville, NJ | 7,916 | 173 | 1.4x |
