What is the cost of living in Kearny, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Kearny has an overall cost of living index of 131, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Kearny has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Kearny ranks as #120 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Kearny ranks as the #142 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Kearny, check out:
Kearny Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Kearny. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Kearny is 108.
The Groceries index in Kearny is 113.
The Health index in Kearny is 178.
The Housing index in Kearny is 116.
The Transportation index in Kearny is 113.
The Utilities index in Kearny is 108.
| Living Expense | Kearny | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 131 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 178 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 113 | 100 |
Kearny 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 Kearny Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Kearny, 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 Kearny is $584,039.
The Median Rent in Kearny is $1,720.
The Median Income in Kearny is $79,154.
The Home Value To Income in Kearny is 7.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Kearny is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Kearny | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $584,039 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,720 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $79,154 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.4x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Kearny, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Kearny Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Kearny | 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 Kearny Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Kearny | 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 Kearny Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Kearny | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $157.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $115.59 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $124.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Kearny Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Kearny | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $82.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Kearny Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Kearny | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $236.04 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Kearny SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Kearny
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Kearny. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Newark, NJ has a cost of living index of 121, 0.9x Kearny.
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 182, 1.4x Kearny.
Secaucus, NJ has a cost of living index of 154, 1.2x Kearny.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Kearny |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newark, NJ | 310,178 | 121 | 0.9x |
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.4x |
| Secaucus, NJ | 21,778 | 154 | 1.2x |
| Harrison, NJ | 20,369 | 136 | 1.0x |
| Rutherford, NJ | 18,894 | 147 | 1.1x |
| North Arlington, NJ | 16,461 | 134 | 1.0x |
| Florham Park, NJ | 13,564 | 174 | 1.3x |
| Glen Rock, NJ | 12,154 | 174 | 1.3x |
| Hasbrouck Heights, NJ | 12,115 | 140 | 1.1x |
| Lincoln Park, NJ | 10,957 | 133 | 1.0x |
