What is the cost of living in New Brunswick, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, New Brunswick has an overall cost of living index of 122, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, New Brunswick has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in New Brunswick ranks as #76 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies New Brunswick ranks as the #186 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in New Brunswick, check out:
New Brunswick Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in New Brunswick. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in New Brunswick is 110.
The Groceries index in New Brunswick is 114.
The Health index in New Brunswick is 148.
The Housing index in New Brunswick is 111.
The Transportation index in New Brunswick is 113.
The Utilities index in New Brunswick is 113.
| Living Expense | New Brunswick | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 122 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 148 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 111 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 113 | 100 |
New Brunswick 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 New Brunswick Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
New Brunswick, 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 New Brunswick is $442,984.
The Median Rent in New Brunswick is $1,814.
The Median Income in New Brunswick is $65,810.
The Home Value To Income in New Brunswick is 6.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in New Brunswick is 0.33x.
| Statistic | New Brunswick | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $442,984 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,814 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $65,810 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.7x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.33x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
New Brunswick, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed New Brunswick Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | New Brunswick | 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 New Brunswick Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | New Brunswick | 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 New Brunswick Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | New Brunswick | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.1 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $129.94 | $113.29 |
Detailed New Brunswick Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | New Brunswick | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $72.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed New Brunswick Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | New Brunswick | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.08 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
New Brunswick SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around New Brunswick
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around New Brunswick. 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, 1.5x New Brunswick.
Somerset, NJ has a cost of living index of 134, 1.1x New Brunswick.
Colonia, NJ has a cost of living index of 136, 1.1x New Brunswick.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. New Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.5x |
| Somerset, NJ | 22,720 | 134 | 1.1x |
| Colonia, NJ | 18,587 | 136 | 1.1x |
| South River, NJ | 16,124 | 127 | 1.0x |
| Highland Park, NJ | 15,121 | 134 | 1.1x |
| Middlesex, NJ | 14,645 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Bradley Gardens, NJ | 14,165 | 152 | 1.2x |
| New Providence, NJ | 13,727 | 167 | 1.4x |
| Martinsville, NJ | 11,559 | 166 | 1.4x |
| East Franklin, NJ | 11,070 | 126 | 1.0x |
