What is the cost of living in Rockaway, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Rockaway has an overall cost of living index of 133, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Rockaway has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Rockaway ranks as #132 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Rockaway ranks as the #130 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Rockaway, check out:
Rockaway Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Rockaway. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Rockaway is 111.
The Groceries index in Rockaway is 110.
The Health index in Rockaway is 180.
The Housing index in Rockaway is 113.
The Transportation index in Rockaway is 108.
The Utilities index in Rockaway is 114.
| Living Expense | Rockaway | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 133 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 180 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 114 | 113 | 100 |
Rockaway 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 Rockaway Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Rockaway, 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 Rockaway is $561,516.
The Median Rent in Rockaway is $1,587.
The Median Income in Rockaway is $107,053.
The Home Value To Income in Rockaway is 5.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Rockaway is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Rockaway | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $561,516 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,587 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $107,053 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.2x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Rockaway, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Rockaway Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Rockaway | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.44 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.15 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $25.03 | $18 |
| Haircut | $29.17 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.36 | $45.56 |
Detailed Rockaway Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Rockaway | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.64 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.55 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.74 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.21 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.66 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.66 | $3.7 |
Detailed Rockaway Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Rockaway | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $105.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $117.94 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $121.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Rockaway Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Rockaway | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $77.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Rockaway Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Rockaway | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $230.68 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Rockaway SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Rockaway
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Rockaway. 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, 1.4x Rockaway.
Dover, NJ has a cost of living index of 121, 0.9x Rockaway.
Florham Park, NJ has a cost of living index of 174, 1.3x Rockaway.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Rockaway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.4x |
| Dover, NJ | 18,563 | 121 | 0.9x |
| Florham Park, NJ | 13,564 | 174 | 1.3x |
| Oakland, NJ | 12,768 | 149 | 1.1x |
| Franklin Lakes, NJ | 11,084 | 221 | 1.7x |
| Lincoln Park, NJ | 10,957 | 133 | 1.0x |
| Succasunna, NJ | 9,799 | 141 | 1.1x |
| Boonton, NJ | 8,854 | 138 | 1.0x |
| White Meadow Lake, NJ | 8,842 | 139 | 1.0x |
| Wharton, NJ | 7,318 | 131 | 1.0x |
