What is the cost of living in Ocean City, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Ocean City has an overall cost of living index of 155, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Ocean City has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Ocean City ranks as #213 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Ocean City ranks as the #49 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Ocean City, check out:
Ocean City Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Ocean City. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Ocean City is 106.
The Groceries index in Ocean City is 108.
The Health index in Ocean City is 261.
The Housing index in Ocean City is 115.
The Transportation index in Ocean City is 112.
The Utilities index in Ocean City is 115.
| Living Expense | Ocean City | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 155 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 108 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 261 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 113 | 100 |
Ocean City 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 Ocean City Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Ocean City, 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 Ocean City is $1,099,876.
The Median Rent in Ocean City is $1,683.
The Median Income in Ocean City is $101,782.
The Home Value To Income in Ocean City is 10.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Ocean City is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Ocean City | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,099,876 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,683 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $101,782 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.8x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Ocean City, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Ocean City Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Ocean City | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.28 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.4 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.44 | $18 |
| Haircut | $23.17 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $52.17 | $45.56 |
Detailed Ocean City Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Ocean City | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.11 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.68 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.38 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.29 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.43 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.59 | $3.7 |
Detailed Ocean City Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Ocean City | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $143.3 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $134.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $120.11 | $113.29 |
Detailed Ocean City Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Ocean City | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.44 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $62.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Ocean City Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Ocean City | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $214.53 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.25 | $192.25 |
