What is the cost of living in Elizabeth, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Elizabeth has an overall cost of living index of 125, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Elizabeth has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Elizabeth ranks as #87 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Elizabeth ranks as the #175 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Elizabeth, check out:
Elizabeth Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Elizabeth. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Elizabeth is 111.
The Groceries index in Elizabeth is 113.
The Health index in Elizabeth is 154.
The Housing index in Elizabeth is 116.
The Transportation index in Elizabeth is 119.
The Utilities index in Elizabeth is 113.
| Living Expense | Elizabeth | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 125 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 154 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 119 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 113 | 100 |
Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Elizabeth, 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 Elizabeth is $534,666.
The Median Rent in Elizabeth is $1,523.
The Median Income in Elizabeth is $66,555.
The Home Value To Income in Elizabeth is 8.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Elizabeth is 0.27x.
| Statistic | Elizabeth | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $534,666 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,523 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $66,555 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.0x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.27x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Elizabeth, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Elizabeth Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Elizabeth | 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 Elizabeth Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Elizabeth | 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 Elizabeth Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Elizabeth | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $157.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $115.59 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $124.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Elizabeth Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Elizabeth | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $82.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Elizabeth Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Elizabeth | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $236.04 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Elizabeth SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Elizabeth
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Elizabeth. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Newark, NJ has a cost of living index of 121, 1.0x Elizabeth.
Linden, NJ has a cost of living index of 126, 1.0x Elizabeth.
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 182, 1.5x Elizabeth.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Elizabeth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newark, NJ | 310,178 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Linden, NJ | 44,192 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.5x |
| Rahway, NJ | 30,109 | 118 | 0.9x |
| Carteret, NJ | 25,496 | 123 | 1.0x |
| Roselle, NJ | 22,646 | 117 | 0.9x |
| Harrison, NJ | 20,369 | 136 | 1.1x |
| Middlesex, NJ | 14,645 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Roselle Park, NJ | 14,093 | 122 | 1.0x |
| Florham Park, NJ | 13,564 | 174 | 1.4x |
