What is the cost of living in North Plainfield, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, North Plainfield has an overall cost of living index of 126, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, North Plainfield has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in North Plainfield ranks as #93 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies North Plainfield ranks as the #169 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in North Plainfield, check out:
North Plainfield Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in North Plainfield. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in North Plainfield is 109.
The Groceries index in North Plainfield is 114.
The Health index in North Plainfield is 151.
The Housing index in North Plainfield is 116.
The Transportation index in North Plainfield is 112.
The Utilities index in North Plainfield is 113.
| Living Expense | North Plainfield | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 126 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 151 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 113 | 100 |
North Plainfield 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 North Plainfield Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
North Plainfield, 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 North Plainfield is $491,908.
The Median Rent in North Plainfield is $1,752.
The Median Income in North Plainfield is $87,349.
The Home Value To Income in North Plainfield is 5.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in North Plainfield is 0.24x.
| Statistic | North Plainfield | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $491,908 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,752 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $87,349 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.6x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
North Plainfield, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed North Plainfield Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | North Plainfield | 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 North Plainfield Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | North Plainfield | 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 North Plainfield Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | North Plainfield | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.1 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $129.94 | $113.29 |
Detailed North Plainfield Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | North Plainfield | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $72.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed North Plainfield Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | North Plainfield | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.08 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
North Plainfield SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around North Plainfield
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around North Plainfield. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Plainfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 122, 1.0x North Plainfield.
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 182, 1.4x North Plainfield.
South Plainfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 136, 1.1x North Plainfield.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. North Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plainfield, NJ | 55,236 | 122 | 1.0x |
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.4x |
| South Plainfield, NJ | 24,473 | 136 | 1.1x |
| Middlesex, NJ | 14,645 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Bradley Gardens, NJ | 14,165 | 152 | 1.2x |
| New Providence, NJ | 13,727 | 167 | 1.3x |
| Florham Park, NJ | 13,564 | 174 | 1.4x |
| Martinsville, NJ | 11,559 | 166 | 1.3x |
| Succasunna, NJ | 9,799 | 141 | 1.1x |
| Boonton, NJ | 8,854 | 138 | 1.1x |
