What is the cost of living in Paterson, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Paterson has an overall cost of living index of 121, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Paterson has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Paterson ranks as #68 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Paterson ranks as the #194 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Paterson, check out:
Paterson Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Paterson. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Paterson is 108.
The Groceries index in Paterson is 112.
The Health index in Paterson is 138.
The Housing index in Paterson is 120.
The Transportation index in Paterson is 111.
The Utilities index in Paterson is 112.
| Living Expense | Paterson | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 121 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 138 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 120 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 111 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 112 | 113 | 100 |
Paterson 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 Paterson Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Paterson, 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 Paterson is $528,882.
The Median Rent in Paterson is $1,548.
The Median Income in Paterson is $55,997.
The Home Value To Income in Paterson is 9.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Paterson is 0.33x.
| Statistic | Paterson | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $528,882 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,548 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $55,997 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.4x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.33x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Paterson, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Paterson Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Paterson | 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 Paterson Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Paterson | 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 Paterson Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Paterson | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $157.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $115.59 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $124.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Paterson Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Paterson | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $82.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Paterson Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Paterson | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $236.04 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Paterson SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Paterson
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Paterson. 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, 1.1x Paterson.
Fair Lawn, NJ has a cost of living index of 145, 1.2x Paterson.
Elmwood Park, NJ has a cost of living index of 138, 1.1x Paterson.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Paterson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton, NJ | 89,379 | 132 | 1.1x |
| Fair Lawn, NJ | 35,610 | 145 | 1.2x |
| Elmwood Park, NJ | 21,412 | 138 | 1.1x |
| Eastchester, NY | 20,491 | 168 | 1.4x |
| Hawthorne, NJ | 19,628 | 140 | 1.2x |
| Woodland Park, NJ | 13,355 | 135 | 1.1x |
| Glen Rock, NJ | 12,154 | 174 | 1.4x |
| Dobbs Ferry, NY | 11,443 | 173 | 1.4x |
| Totowa, NJ | 10,959 | 138 | 1.1x |
| Hillcrest, NY | 9,071 | 141 | 1.2x |
