What is the cost of living in Rutherford, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Rutherford has an overall cost of living index of 147, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Rutherford has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Rutherford ranks as #192 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Rutherford ranks as the #70 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Rutherford, check out:
Rutherford Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Rutherford. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Rutherford is 107.
The Groceries index in Rutherford is 112.
The Health index in Rutherford is 230.
The Housing index in Rutherford is 113.
The Transportation index in Rutherford is 116.
The Utilities index in Rutherford is 111.
| Living Expense | Rutherford | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 147 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 230 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 111 | 113 | 100 |
Rutherford 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 Rutherford Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Rutherford, 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 Rutherford is $738,683.
The Median Rent in Rutherford is $1,966.
The Median Income in Rutherford is $143,153.
The Home Value To Income in Rutherford is 5.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Rutherford is 0.16x.
| Statistic | Rutherford | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $738,683 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,966 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $143,153 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.2x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Rutherford, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Rutherford Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Rutherford | 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 Rutherford Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Rutherford | 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 Rutherford Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Rutherford | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $157.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $115.59 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $124.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Rutherford Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Rutherford | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $82.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Rutherford Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Rutherford | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $236.04 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Rutherford SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Rutherford
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Rutherford. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Passaic, NJ has a cost of living index of 130, 0.9x Rutherford.
Secaucus, NJ has a cost of living index of 154, 1.0x Rutherford.
Eastchester, NY has a cost of living index of 168, 1.1x Rutherford.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Rutherford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passaic, NJ | 70,002 | 130 | 0.9x |
| Secaucus, NJ | 21,778 | 154 | 1.0x |
| Eastchester, NY | 20,491 | 168 | 1.1x |
| North Arlington, NJ | 16,461 | 134 | 0.9x |
| Hasbrouck Heights, NJ | 12,115 | 140 | 1.0x |
| Wallington, NJ | 11,889 | 137 | 0.9x |
| Dobbs Ferry, NY | 11,443 | 173 | 1.2x |
| East Rutherford, NJ | 10,313 | 138 | 0.9x |
| Wood-Ridge, NJ | 10,218 | 142 | 1.0x |
| Hastings-on-Hudson, NY | 8,434 | 172 | 1.2x |
