What is the cost of living in Rahway, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Rahway has an overall cost of living index of 118, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Rahway has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Rahway ranks as #54 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Rahway ranks as the #208 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Rahway, check out:
Rahway Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Rahway. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Rahway is 107.
The Groceries index in Rahway is 111.
The Health index in Rahway is 145.
The Housing index in Rahway is 110.
The Transportation index in Rahway is 111.
The Utilities index in Rahway is 106.
| Living Expense | Rahway | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 118 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 145 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 110 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 111 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 113 | 100 |
Rahway 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 Rahway Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Rahway, 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 Rahway is $529,779.
The Median Rent in Rahway is $1,845.
The Median Income in Rahway is $91,461.
The Home Value To Income in Rahway is 5.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Rahway is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Rahway | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $529,779 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,845 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $91,461 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.8x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Rahway, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Rahway Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Rahway | 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 Rahway Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Rahway | 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 Rahway Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Rahway | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $157.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $115.59 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $124.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Rahway Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Rahway | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $82.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Rahway Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Rahway | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $236.04 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Rahway SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Rahway
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Rahway. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Linden, NJ has a cost of living index of 126, 1.1x Rahway.
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 182, 1.5x Rahway.
Carteret, NJ has a cost of living index of 123, 1.0x Rahway.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Rahway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linden, NJ | 44,192 | 126 | 1.1x |
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.5x |
| Carteret, NJ | 25,496 | 123 | 1.0x |
| Roselle, NJ | 22,646 | 117 | 1.0x |
| Woodbridge, NJ | 20,756 | 126 | 1.1x |
| Iselin, NJ | 19,551 | 131 | 1.1x |
| Colonia, NJ | 18,587 | 136 | 1.2x |
| Avenel, NJ | 17,121 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Middlesex, NJ | 14,645 | 128 | 1.1x |
| Florham Park, NJ | 13,564 | 174 | 1.5x |








