What is the cost of living in Garfield, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Garfield has an overall cost of living index of 132, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Garfield has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Garfield ranks as #126 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Garfield ranks as the #136 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Garfield, check out:
Garfield Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Garfield. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Garfield is 107.
The Groceries index in Garfield is 107.
The Health index in Garfield is 181.
The Housing index in Garfield is 110.
The Transportation index in Garfield is 113.
The Utilities index in Garfield is 109.
| Living Expense | Garfield | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 132 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 181 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 110 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 113 | 100 |
Garfield 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 Garfield Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Garfield, 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 Garfield is $580,601.
The Median Rent in Garfield is $1,688.
The Median Income in Garfield is $79,700.
The Home Value To Income in Garfield is 7.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Garfield is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Garfield | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $580,601 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,688 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $79,700 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.3x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Garfield, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Garfield Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Garfield | 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 Garfield Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Garfield | 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 Garfield Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Garfield | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $157.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $115.59 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $124.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Garfield Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Garfield | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $82.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Garfield Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Garfield | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $236.04 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Garfield SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Garfield
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Garfield. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Clifton, NJ has a cost of living index of 132, 1.0x Garfield.
Passaic, NJ has a cost of living index of 130, 1.0x Garfield.
Hackensack, NJ has a cost of living index of 128, 1.0x Garfield.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Garfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton, NJ | 89,379 | 132 | 1.0x |
| Passaic, NJ | 70,002 | 130 | 1.0x |
| Hackensack, NJ | 46,057 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Lodi, NJ | 26,082 | 135 | 1.0x |
| Elmwood Park, NJ | 21,412 | 138 | 1.0x |
| Eastchester, NY | 20,491 | 168 | 1.3x |
| Scarsdale, NY | 18,010 | 280 | 2.1x |
| Hasbrouck Heights, NJ | 12,115 | 140 | 1.1x |
| Wallington, NJ | 11,889 | 137 | 1.0x |
| Dobbs Ferry, NY | 11,443 | 173 | 1.3x |
