What is the cost of living in Highland Park, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Highland Park has an overall cost of living index of 134, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Highland Park has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Highland Park ranks as #139 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Highland Park ranks as the #123 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Highland Park, check out:
Highland Park Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Highland Park. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Highland Park is 109.
The Groceries index in Highland Park is 113.
The Health index in Highland Park is 182.
The Housing index in Highland Park is 113.
The Transportation index in Highland Park is 117.
The Utilities index in Highland Park is 114.
| Living Expense | Highland Park | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 134 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 182 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 114 | 113 | 100 |
Highland Park 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 Highland Park Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Highland Park, 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 Highland Park is $585,368.
The Median Rent in Highland Park is $1,873.
The Median Income in Highland Park is $104,694.
The Home Value To Income in Highland Park is 5.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Highland Park is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Highland Park | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $585,368 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,873 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $104,694 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.6x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Highland Park, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Highland Park Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Highland Park | 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 Highland Park Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Highland Park | 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 Highland Park Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Highland Park | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.1 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $129.94 | $113.29 |
Detailed Highland Park Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Highland Park | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $72.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Highland Park Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Highland Park | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.08 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Highland Park SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Highland Park
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Highland Park. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
New Brunswick, NJ has a cost of living index of 122, 0.9x Highland Park.
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 182, 1.4x Highland Park.
South Plainfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 136, 1.0x Highland Park.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Highland Park |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick, NJ | 56,345 | 122 | 0.9x |
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.4x |
| South Plainfield, NJ | 24,473 | 136 | 1.0x |
| Somerset, NJ | 22,720 | 134 | 1.0x |
| South River, NJ | 16,124 | 127 | 0.9x |
| Metuchen, NJ | 15,144 | 149 | 1.1x |
| Middlesex, NJ | 14,645 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Bradley Gardens, NJ | 14,165 | 152 | 1.1x |
| New Providence, NJ | 13,727 | 167 | 1.2x |
| Florham Park, NJ | 13,564 | 174 | 1.3x |
