What is the cost of living in Passaic, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Passaic has an overall cost of living index of 130, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Passaic has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Passaic ranks as #115 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Passaic ranks as the #147 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Passaic, check out:
Passaic Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Passaic. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Passaic is 105.
The Groceries index in Passaic is 109.
The Health index in Passaic is 172.
The Housing index in Passaic is 110.
The Transportation index in Passaic is 113.
The Utilities index in Passaic is 112.
| Living Expense | Passaic | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 130 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 172 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 110 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 112 | 113 | 100 |
Passaic 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 Passaic Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Passaic, 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 Passaic is $552,682.
The Median Rent in Passaic is $1,465.
The Median Income in Passaic is $55,371.
The Home Value To Income in Passaic is 10.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Passaic is 0.32x.
| Statistic | Passaic | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $552,682 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,465 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $55,371 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.0x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.32x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Passaic, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Passaic Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Passaic | 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 Passaic Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Passaic | 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 Passaic Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Passaic | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $157.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $115.59 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $124.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Passaic Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Passaic | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $82.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Passaic Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Passaic | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $236.04 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Passaic SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Passaic
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Passaic. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Clifton, NJ has a cost of living index of 132, 1.0x Passaic.
Garfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 132, 1.0x Passaic.
Lodi, NJ has a cost of living index of 135, 1.0x Passaic.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Passaic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton, NJ | 89,379 | 132 | 1.0x |
| Garfield, NJ | 32,783 | 132 | 1.0x |
| Lodi, NJ | 26,082 | 135 | 1.0x |
| Elmwood Park, NJ | 21,412 | 138 | 1.1x |
| Eastchester, NY | 20,491 | 168 | 1.3x |
| Rutherford, NJ | 18,894 | 147 | 1.1x |
| Hasbrouck Heights, NJ | 12,115 | 140 | 1.1x |
| Wallington, NJ | 11,889 | 137 | 1.1x |
| Dobbs Ferry, NY | 11,443 | 173 | 1.3x |
| Wood-Ridge, NJ | 10,218 | 142 | 1.1x |
