What is the cost of living in Ridgewood, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Ridgewood has an overall cost of living index of 182, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Ridgewood has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Ridgewood ranks as #245 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Ridgewood ranks as the #17 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Ridgewood, check out:
Ridgewood Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Ridgewood. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Ridgewood is 108.
The Groceries index in Ridgewood is 108.
The Health index in Ridgewood is 348.
The Housing index in Ridgewood is 110.
The Transportation index in Ridgewood is 110.
The Utilities index in Ridgewood is 114.
| Living Expense | Ridgewood | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 182 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 108 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 348 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 110 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 110 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 114 | 113 | 100 |
Ridgewood 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 Ridgewood Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Ridgewood, 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 Ridgewood is $1,200,488.
The Median Rent in Ridgewood is $2,499.
The Median Income in Ridgewood is $208,211.
The Home Value To Income in Ridgewood is 5.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Ridgewood is 0.14x.
| Statistic | Ridgewood | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,200,488 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,499 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $208,211 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.8x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.14x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Ridgewood, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Ridgewood Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Ridgewood | 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 Ridgewood Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Ridgewood | 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 Ridgewood Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Ridgewood | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $157.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $115.59 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $124.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Ridgewood Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Ridgewood | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $82.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Ridgewood Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Ridgewood | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $236.04 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Ridgewood SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Ridgewood
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Ridgewood. 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 145, 0.8x Ridgewood.
Paramus, NJ has a cost of living index of 175, 1.0x Ridgewood.
Eastchester, NY has a cost of living index of 168, 0.9x Ridgewood.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Ridgewood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair Lawn, NJ | 35,610 | 145 | 0.8x |
| Paramus, NJ | 26,568 | 175 | 1.0x |
| Eastchester, NY | 20,491 | 168 | 0.9x |
| Hawthorne, NJ | 19,628 | 140 | 0.8x |
| Scarsdale, NY | 18,010 | 280 | 1.5x |
| Glen Rock, NJ | 12,154 | 174 | 1.0x |
| Waldwick, NJ | 10,164 | 145 | 0.8x |
| North Haledon, NJ | 8,778 | 152 | 0.8x |
| Briarcliff Manor, NY | 7,519 | 178 | 1.0x |
| Midland Park, NJ | 7,019 | 151 | 0.8x |
