What is the cost of living in South Amboy, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, South Amboy has an overall cost of living index of 130, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, South Amboy has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in South Amboy ranks as #115 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies South Amboy ranks as the #147 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in South Amboy, check out:
South Amboy Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South Amboy. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in South Amboy is 106.
The Groceries index in South Amboy is 109.
The Health index in South Amboy is 172.
The Housing index in South Amboy is 116.
The Transportation index in South Amboy is 108.
The Utilities index in South Amboy is 113.
| Living Expense | South Amboy | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 130 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 172 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 113 | 100 |
South Amboy 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 South Amboy Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
South Amboy, 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 South Amboy is $523,101.
The Median Rent in South Amboy is $1,707.
The Median Income in South Amboy is $91,997.
The Home Value To Income in South Amboy is 5.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in South Amboy is 0.22x.
| Statistic | South Amboy | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $523,101 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,707 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $91,997 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.7x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
South Amboy, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed South Amboy Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | South Amboy | 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 South Amboy Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | South Amboy | 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 South Amboy Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | South Amboy | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.1 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $129.94 | $113.29 |
Detailed South Amboy Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | South Amboy | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $72.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed South Amboy Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | South Amboy | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.08 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
South Amboy SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around South Amboy
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around South Amboy. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Perth Amboy, NJ has a cost of living index of 120, 0.9x South Amboy.
Sayreville, NJ has a cost of living index of 126, 1.0x South Amboy.
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 182, 1.4x South Amboy.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. South Amboy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perth Amboy, NJ | 55,855 | 120 | 0.9x |
| Sayreville, NJ | 45,838 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.4x |
| Woodbridge, NJ | 20,756 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Colonia, NJ | 18,587 | 136 | 1.0x |
| Middlesex, NJ | 14,645 | 128 | 1.0x |
| New Providence, NJ | 13,727 | 167 | 1.3x |
| Fords, NJ | 12,771 | 129 | 1.0x |
| Martinsville, NJ | 11,559 | 166 | 1.3x |
| Madison Park, NJ | 9,124 | 126 | 1.0x |
