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 1.0x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Iselin ranks as #120 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Iselin ranks as the #142 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Iselin, check out:
Iselin Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Iselin. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Iselin is 105.
The Groceries index in Iselin is 113.
The Health index in Iselin is 178.
The Housing index in Iselin is 111.
The Transportation index in Iselin is 109.
The Utilities index in Iselin is 106.
| Living Expense | Iselin | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 131 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 178 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 111 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 113 | 100 |
Iselin 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 Iselin Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Iselin is $560,048.
The Median Rent in Iselin is $2,113.
The Median Income in Iselin is $109,500.
The Home Value To Income in Iselin is 5.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Iselin is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Iselin | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $560,048 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,113 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $109,500 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.1x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
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
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 120, 0.9x Iselin.
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 182, 1.4x Iselin.
Rahway, NJ has a cost of living index of 118, 0.9x Iselin.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Iselin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perth Amboy, NJ | 55,855 | 120 | 0.9x |
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.4x |
| Rahway, NJ | 30,109 | 118 | 0.9x |
| South Plainfield, NJ | 24,473 | 136 | 1.0x |
| Woodbridge, NJ | 20,756 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Colonia, NJ | 18,587 | 136 | 1.0x |
| Avenel, NJ | 17,121 | 121 | 0.9x |
| Metuchen, NJ | 15,144 | 149 | 1.1x |
| Middlesex, NJ | 14,645 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Bradley Gardens, NJ | 14,165 | 152 | 1.2x |








