What is the cost of living in Hackensack, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Hackensack has an overall cost of living index of 128, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Hackensack has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Hackensack ranks as #105 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Hackensack ranks as the #157 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Hackensack, check out:
Hackensack Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Hackensack. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Hackensack is 104.
The Groceries index in Hackensack is 114.
The Health index in Hackensack is 162.
The Housing index in Hackensack is 113.
The Transportation index in Hackensack is 113.
The Utilities index in Hackensack is 108.
| Living Expense | Hackensack | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 128 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 162 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 113 | 100 |
Hackensack 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 Hackensack Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Hackensack, 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 Hackensack is $465,835.
The Median Rent in Hackensack is $1,911.
The Median Income in Hackensack is $84,277.
The Home Value To Income in Hackensack is 5.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Hackensack is 0.27x.
| Statistic | Hackensack | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $465,835 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,911 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $84,277 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.5x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.27x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Hackensack, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Hackensack Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Hackensack | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.69 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.68 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $29.4 | $18 |
| Haircut | $34.94 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $64.07 | $45.56 |
Detailed Hackensack Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Hackensack | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.87 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.46 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.97 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.21 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.57 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.87 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.96 | $3.7 |
Detailed Hackensack Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Hackensack | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $128.97 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $162.24 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.64 | $113.29 |
Detailed Hackensack Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Hackensack | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.55 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $86.43 | $59.92 |
Detailed Hackensack Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Hackensack | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.27 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $200.67 | $192.25 |
Hackensack SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Hackensack
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Hackensack. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Garfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 132, 1.0x Hackensack.
Bergenfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 134, 1.0x Hackensack.
Lodi, NJ has a cost of living index of 135, 1.1x Hackensack.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Hackensack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield, NJ | 32,783 | 132 | 1.0x |
| Bergenfield, NJ | 28,450 | 134 | 1.0x |
| Lodi, NJ | 26,082 | 135 | 1.1x |
| Eastchester, NY | 20,491 | 168 | 1.3x |
| Mamaroneck, NY | 19,826 | 165 | 1.3x |
| Scarsdale, NY | 18,010 | 280 | 2.2x |
| Port Washington, NY | 18,004 | 196 | 1.5x |
| Ridgefield Park, NJ | 13,235 | 131 | 1.0x |
| Hasbrouck Heights, NJ | 12,115 | 140 | 1.1x |
| River Edge, NJ | 12,091 | 152 | 1.2x |
