Paramus, NJ Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Paramus, NJ Summary

Cost of living in Paramus research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Paramus is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in New Jersey, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Paramus is 169, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Paramus is 1.7x higher than the national average.

  • Paramus ranks as the #231 cheapest in New Jersey out of 260.

  • Paramus ranks as the #6,049 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Paramus is $1,006,336.

  • The median income in Paramus is $139,707.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
169
Paramus's Overall Cost Of Living
1.7x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Paramus, NJ?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Paramus has an overall cost of living index of 169, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to New Jersey, Paramus has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than New Jersey's index of 122.

The standard of living in Paramus ranks as #231 most affordable out of the 260 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Paramus ranks as the #29 most expensive place in the Garden State.

For more reading on life in Paramus, check out:

231 out of 260
In New Jersey
6,049 out of 6,489
In America

Paramus Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Paramus. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Paramus is 106.

  • The Groceries index in Paramus is 103.

  • The Health index in Paramus is 97.

  • The Housing index in Paramus is 310.

  • The Transportation index in Paramus is 109.

  • The Utilities index in Paramus is 112.

Living Expense Paramus New Jersey National Average
Overall 169 122 100
Services 106 108 100
Groceries 103 104 100
Health 97 99 100
Housing 310 159 100
Transportation 109 101 100
Utilities 112 107 100
For more reading on cost of living around New Jersey, check out:
Paramus Cost of Living Vs. NJ

Paramus, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Paramus is $1,006,336.

  • The Median Rent in Paramus is $2,845.

  • The Median Income in Paramus is $139,707.

  • The Home Value To Income in Paramus is 7.2x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Paramus is 0.24x.

Statistic Paramus New Jersey United States
Median Home Value $1,006,336 $564,432 $303,400
Median Rent $2,845 $1,653 $1,348
Median Income $139,707 $101,050 $78,538
Home Value To Income 7.2x 5.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.24x 0.2x 0.21x
$1,006,336
Median Home Value
$2,845
Median Rent
$139,707
Median Income

Paramus, NJ Costs By Category

Detailed Paramus Services Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Paramus 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 Paramus Groceries Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Paramus 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 Paramus Health Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Paramus New Jersey
Optometrist $157.11 $125.68
Doctor $115.59 $135.78
Dentist $124.27 $113.29

Detailed Paramus Transportation Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Paramus New Jersey
Gasoline $3.41 $3.46
Tire Balancing $82.67 $59.92

Detailed Paramus Utilities Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Paramus New Jersey
All Electricity $236.04 $193.99
Phone $186.61 $192.25

Paramus SnackAbility

9
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
10
Affordability
4
Diversity
9
Safety
8
Amenities
9
Education
8.5
Commute
5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Paramus

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Paramus. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Fair Lawn, NJ has a cost of living index of 144, 0.9x Paramus.

  • Ridgewood, NJ has a cost of living index of 180, 1.1x Paramus.

  • Eastchester, NY has a cost of living index of 167, 1.0x Paramus.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Paramus
Fair Lawn, NJ 35,153 144 0.9x
Ridgewood, NJ 26,076 180 1.1x
Eastchester, NY 20,519 167 1.0x
Mamaroneck, NY 19,840 166 1.0x
New Milford, NJ 16,882 148 0.9x
Glen Rock, NJ 12,082 165 1.0x
River Edge, NJ 12,024 159 0.9x
Westwood, NJ 11,221 155 0.9x
Maywood, NJ 10,042 141 0.8x
Oradell, NJ 8,197 172 1.0x

Articles About New Jersey

Enjoy The Snack?