What is the cost of living in Newark, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Newark has an overall cost of living index of 121, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Newark has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Newark ranks as #68 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Newark ranks as the #194 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Newark, check out:
Newark Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Newark. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Newark is 106.
The Groceries index in Newark is 110.
The Health index in Newark is 135.
The Housing index in Newark is 119.
The Transportation index in Newark is 110.
The Utilities index in Newark is 117.
| Living Expense | Newark | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 121 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 135 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 119 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 110 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 117 | 113 | 100 |
Newark 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 Newark Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Newark, 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 Newark is $478,454.
The Median Rent in Newark is $1,392.
The Median Income in Newark is $52,060.
The Home Value To Income in Newark is 9.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Newark is 0.32x.
| Statistic | Newark | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $478,454 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,392 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $52,060 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.2x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.32x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Newark, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Newark Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Newark | 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 Newark Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Newark | 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 Newark Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Newark | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $157.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $115.59 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $124.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Newark Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Newark | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $82.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Newark Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Newark | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $236.04 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Newark SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Newark
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Newark. 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 Newark.
East Orange, NJ has a cost of living index of 114, 0.9x Newark.
Kearny, NJ has a cost of living index of 131, 1.1x Newark.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Newark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth, NJ | 137,302 | 125 | 1.0x |
| East Orange, NJ | 70,090 | 114 | 0.9x |
| Kearny, NJ | 40,614 | 131 | 1.1x |
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.5x |
| Harrison, NJ | 20,369 | 136 | 1.1x |
| North Arlington, NJ | 16,461 | 134 | 1.1x |
| Florham Park, NJ | 13,564 | 174 | 1.4x |
| Glen Rock, NJ | 12,154 | 174 | 1.4x |
| Hasbrouck Heights, NJ | 12,115 | 140 | 1.2x |
| Franklin Lakes, NJ | 11,084 | 221 | 1.8x |
