What is the cost of living in Linden, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Linden has an overall cost of living index of 126, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Linden has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Linden ranks as #93 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Linden ranks as the #169 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Linden, check out:
Linden Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Linden. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Linden is 103.
The Groceries index in Linden is 109.
The Health index in Linden is 160.
The Housing index in Linden is 116.
The Transportation index in Linden is 109.
The Utilities index in Linden is 113.
| Living Expense | Linden | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 126 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 160 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 113 | 100 |
Linden 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 Linden Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Linden, 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 Linden is $545,869.
The Median Rent in Linden is $1,731.
The Median Income in Linden is $92,915.
The Home Value To Income in Linden is 5.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Linden is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Linden | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $545,869 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,731 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $92,915 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.9x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Linden, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Linden Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Linden | 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 Linden Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Linden | 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 Linden Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Linden | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $157.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $115.59 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $124.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Linden Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Linden | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $82.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Linden Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Linden | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $236.04 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Linden SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Linden
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Linden. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Elizabeth, NJ has a cost of living index of 125, 1.0x Linden.
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 182, 1.4x Linden.
Rahway, NJ has a cost of living index of 118, 0.9x Linden.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Linden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth, NJ | 137,302 | 125 | 1.0x |
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.4x |
| Rahway, NJ | 30,109 | 118 | 0.9x |
| Carteret, NJ | 25,496 | 123 | 1.0x |
| Roselle, NJ | 22,646 | 117 | 0.9x |
| Colonia, NJ | 18,587 | 136 | 1.1x |
| Avenel, NJ | 17,121 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Middlesex, NJ | 14,645 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Roselle Park, NJ | 14,093 | 122 | 1.0x |
| Florham Park, NJ | 13,564 | 174 | 1.4x |
