What is the cost of living in Somerset, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Somerset has an overall cost of living index of 134, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Somerset has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Somerset ranks as #139 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Somerset ranks as the #123 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Somerset, check out:
Somerset Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Somerset. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Somerset is 108.
The Groceries index in Somerset is 113.
The Health index in Somerset is 177.
The Housing index in Somerset is 113.
The Transportation index in Somerset is 116.
The Utilities index in Somerset is 111.
| Living Expense | Somerset | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 134 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 177 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 111 | 113 | 100 |
Somerset 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 Somerset Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Somerset, 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 Somerset is $567,275.
The Median Rent in Somerset is $2,121.
The Median Income in Somerset is $121,028.
The Home Value To Income in Somerset is 4.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Somerset is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Somerset | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $567,275 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,121 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $121,028 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.7x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Somerset, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Somerset Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Somerset | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.53 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.53 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.98 | $18 |
| Haircut | $30.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $53.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Somerset Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Somerset | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.13 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.7 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.32 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.59 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.12 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed Somerset Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Somerset | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.1 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $129.94 | $113.29 |
Detailed Somerset Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Somerset | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $72.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Somerset Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Somerset | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.08 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Somerset SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Somerset
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Somerset. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
New Brunswick, NJ has a cost of living index of 122, 0.9x Somerset.
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 182, 1.4x Somerset.
Middlesex, NJ has a cost of living index of 128, 1.0x Somerset.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Somerset |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick, NJ | 56,345 | 122 | 0.9x |
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.4x |
| Middlesex, NJ | 14,645 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Bradley Gardens, NJ | 14,165 | 152 | 1.1x |
| Florham Park, NJ | 13,564 | 174 | 1.3x |
| Martinsville, NJ | 11,559 | 166 | 1.2x |
| East Franklin, NJ | 11,070 | 126 | 0.9x |
| Twin Rivers, NJ | 8,382 | 121 | 0.9x |
| Bernardsville, NJ | 7,916 | 173 | 1.3x |
| Mountainside, NJ | 7,049 | 183 | 1.4x |
