What is the cost of living in Mountainside, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Mountainside has an overall cost of living index of 183, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Mountainside has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Mountainside ranks as #247 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Mountainside ranks as the #15 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Mountainside, check out:
Mountainside Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Mountainside. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Mountainside is 109.
The Groceries index in Mountainside is 112.
The Health index in Mountainside is 350.
The Housing index in Mountainside is 111.
The Transportation index in Mountainside is 111.
The Utilities index in Mountainside is 109.
| Living Expense | Mountainside | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 183 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 350 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 111 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 111 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 113 | 100 |
Mountainside 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 Mountainside Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Mountainside, 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 Mountainside is $1,043,568.
The Median Rent in Mountainside is $3,501.
The Median Income in Mountainside is $211,538.
The Home Value To Income in Mountainside is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Mountainside is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Mountainside | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,043,568 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,501 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $211,538 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.9x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Mountainside, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Mountainside Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Mountainside | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.44 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.15 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $25.03 | $18 |
| Haircut | $29.17 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.36 | $45.56 |
Detailed Mountainside Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Mountainside | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.64 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.55 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.74 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.21 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.66 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.66 | $3.7 |
Detailed Mountainside Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Mountainside | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $105.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $117.94 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $121.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Mountainside Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Mountainside | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $77.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Mountainside Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Mountainside | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $230.68 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Mountainside SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Mountainside
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Mountainside. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 182, 1.0x Mountainside.
Summit, NJ has a cost of living index of 190, 1.0x Mountainside.
Short Hills, NJ has a cost of living index of 263, 1.4x Mountainside.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Mountainside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.0x |
| Summit, NJ | 22,705 | 190 | 1.0x |
| Short Hills, NJ | 14,923 | 263 | 1.4x |
| Bradley Gardens, NJ | 14,165 | 152 | 0.8x |
| Roselle Park, NJ | 14,093 | 122 | 0.7x |
| New Providence, NJ | 13,727 | 167 | 0.9x |
| Florham Park, NJ | 13,564 | 174 | 1.0x |
| Hasbrouck Heights, NJ | 12,115 | 140 | 0.8x |
| Martinsville, NJ | 11,559 | 166 | 0.9x |
| Lincoln Park, NJ | 10,957 | 133 | 0.7x |
