Iselin, NJ Cost Of Living

Demographics | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Iselin, NJ Summary

Cost of living in Iselin research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Iselin is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in New Jersey, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Iselin is 131, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Iselin is 1.3x higher than the national average.

  • Iselin ranks as the #138 cheapest in New Jersey out of 260.

  • Iselin ranks as the #5,035 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Iselin is $555,819.

  • The median income in Iselin is $112,615.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
131
Iselin's Overall Cost Of Living
1.3x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Iselin, NJ?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Iselin has an overall cost of living index of 131, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to New Jersey, Iselin has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than New Jersey's index of 122.

The standard of living in Iselin ranks as #138 most affordable out of the 260 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Iselin ranks as the #122 most expensive place in the Garden State.

For more reading on life in Iselin, check out:

138 out of 260
In New Jersey
5,035 out of 6,489
In America

Iselin Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Iselin. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Iselin is 112.

  • The Groceries index in Iselin is 103.

  • The Health index in Iselin is 100.

  • The Housing index in Iselin is 177.

  • The Transportation index in Iselin is 106.

  • The Utilities index in Iselin is 106.

Living Expense Iselin New Jersey National Average
Overall 131 122 100
Services 112 108 100
Groceries 103 104 100
Health 100 99 100
Housing 177 159 100
Transportation 106 101 100
Utilities 106 107 100
For more reading on cost of living around New Jersey, check out:
Iselin Cost of Living Vs. NJ

Iselin, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Iselin is $555,819.

  • The Median Rent in Iselin is $2,051.

  • The Median Income in Iselin is $112,615.

  • The Home Value To Income in Iselin is 4.9x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Iselin is 0.22x.

Statistic Iselin New Jersey United States
Median Home Value $555,819 $564,432 $303,400
Median Rent $2,051 $1,653 $1,348
Median Income $112,615 $101,050 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.9x 5.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.22x 0.2x 0.21x
$555,819
Median Home Value
$2,051
Median Rent
$112,615
Median Income

Iselin, NJ Costs By Category

Detailed Iselin Services Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Iselin 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 Iselin Groceries Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Iselin 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 Iselin Health Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Iselin New Jersey
Optometrist $129.93 $125.68
Doctor $124.1 $135.78
Dentist $129.94 $113.29

Detailed Iselin Transportation Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Iselin New Jersey
Gasoline $3.41 $3.46
Tire Balancing $72.38 $59.92

Detailed Iselin Utilities Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Iselin New Jersey
All Electricity $223.08 $193.99
Phone $186.61 $192.25

Iselin SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
9
Affordability
6
Diversity
9.5
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9
Education
8
Commute
3

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Iselin

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Iselin. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Perth Amboy, NJ has a cost of living index of 119, 0.9x Iselin.

  • Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 178, 1.4x Iselin.

  • Rahway, NJ has a cost of living index of 116, 0.9x Iselin.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Iselin
Perth Amboy, NJ 55,278 119 0.9x
Westfield, NJ 30,760 178 1.4x
Rahway, NJ 29,748 116 0.9x
South Plainfield, NJ 24,231 132 1.0x
Woodbridge, NJ 20,086 127 1.0x
Colonia, NJ 18,294 131 1.0x
Avenel, NJ 17,143 122 0.9x
Metuchen, NJ 14,982 144 1.1x
Middlesex, NJ 14,518 126 1.0x
Bradley Gardens, NJ 14,315 150 1.1x

Articles About New Jersey

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