What is the cost of living in Salem, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Salem has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Salem has a cost of living index that's 0.7x lower than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Salem ranks as #1 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Salem ranks as the #261 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Salem, check out:
Salem Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Salem. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Salem is 100.
The Groceries index in Salem is 98.
The Health index in Salem is 48.
The Housing index in Salem is 100.
The Transportation index in Salem is 101.
The Utilities index in Salem is 104.
| Living Expense | Salem | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 48 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 113 | 100 |
Salem 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 Salem Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Salem, 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 Salem is $223,562.
The Median Rent in Salem is $1,075.
The Median Income in Salem is $38,721.
The Home Value To Income in Salem is 5.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Salem is 0.33x.
| Statistic | Salem | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $223,562 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,075 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $38,721 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.8x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.33x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Salem, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Salem Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Salem | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.41 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.71 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.5 | $18 |
| Haircut | $30.14 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $47.42 | $45.56 |
Detailed Salem Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Salem | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.73 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.52 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.81 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.4 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.33 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.96 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed Salem Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Salem | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $113.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $149.53 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $132.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Salem Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Salem | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.5 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $74.86 | $59.92 |
Detailed Salem Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Salem | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $173.73 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.79 | $192.25 |
Salem SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Salem
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Salem. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Glasgow, DE has a cost of living index of 116, 1.3x Salem.
Hockessin, DE has a cost of living index of 143, 1.7x Salem.
Pike Creek Valley, DE has a cost of living index of 110, 1.3x Salem.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow, DE | 15,546 | 116 | 1.3x |
| Hockessin, DE | 13,439 | 143 | 1.7x |
| Pike Creek Valley, DE | 12,431 | 110 | 1.3x |
| Pennsville, NJ | 12,233 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Wilmington Manor, DE | 8,214 | 101 | 1.2x |
| Carneys Point, NJ | 8,050 | 97 | 1.1x |
| North Star, DE | 7,834 | 136 | 1.6x |
| Pike Creek, DE | 7,129 | 127 | 1.5x |
| New Castle, DE | 5,579 | 108 | 1.3x |
