What is the cost of living in Plainfield, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Plainfield has an overall cost of living index of 122, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Plainfield has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Plainfield ranks as #76 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Plainfield ranks as the #186 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Plainfield, check out:
Plainfield Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Plainfield. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Plainfield is 109.
The Groceries index in Plainfield is 114.
The Health index in Plainfield is 146.
The Housing index in Plainfield is 116.
The Transportation index in Plainfield is 111.
The Utilities index in Plainfield is 115.
| Living Expense | Plainfield | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 122 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 146 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 111 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 113 | 100 |
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 Plainfield Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 Plainfield is $511,835.
The Median Rent in Plainfield is $1,767.
The Median Income in Plainfield is $85,908.
The Home Value To Income in Plainfield is 6.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Plainfield is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Plainfield | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $511,835 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,767 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $85,908 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.0x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Plainfield, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Plainfield Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | 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 Plainfield Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | 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 Plainfield Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Plainfield | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.1 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $129.94 | $113.29 |
Detailed Plainfield Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Plainfield | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $72.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Plainfield Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Plainfield | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.08 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Plainfield SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Plainfield
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Plainfield. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 182, 1.5x Plainfield.
South Plainfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 136, 1.1x Plainfield.
North Plainfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 126, 1.0x Plainfield.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.5x |
| South Plainfield, NJ | 24,473 | 136 | 1.1x |
| North Plainfield, NJ | 22,809 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Colonia, NJ | 18,587 | 136 | 1.1x |
| Middlesex, NJ | 14,645 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Bradley Gardens, NJ | 14,165 | 152 | 1.2x |
| Florham Park, NJ | 13,564 | 174 | 1.4x |
| Martinsville, NJ | 11,559 | 166 | 1.4x |
| Boonton, NJ | 8,854 | 138 | 1.1x |
| Dunellen, NJ | 7,911 | 125 | 1.0x |
