What is the cost of living in South Plainfield, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, South Plainfield has an overall cost of living index of 136, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, South Plainfield has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in South Plainfield ranks as #152 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies South Plainfield ranks as the #110 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in South Plainfield, check out:
South Plainfield Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South Plainfield. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in South Plainfield is 108.
The Groceries index in South Plainfield is 115.
The Health index in South Plainfield is 184.
The Housing index in South Plainfield is 116.
The Transportation index in South Plainfield is 110.
The Utilities index in South Plainfield is 115.
| Living Expense | South Plainfield | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 136 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 184 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 110 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 113 | 100 |
South Plainfield 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 Plainfield Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
South Plainfield, 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 Plainfield is $583,002.
The Median Rent in South Plainfield is $2,107.
The Median Income in South Plainfield is $130,239.
The Home Value To Income in South Plainfield is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in South Plainfield is 0.19x.
| Statistic | South Plainfield | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $583,002 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,107 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $130,239 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.5x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
South Plainfield, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed South Plainfield Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | South Plainfield | 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 Plainfield Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | South Plainfield | 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 Plainfield Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | South Plainfield | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.1 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $129.94 | $113.29 |
Detailed South Plainfield Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | South Plainfield | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $72.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed South Plainfield Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | South Plainfield | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.08 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
South Plainfield SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around South Plainfield
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around South Plainfield. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Plainfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 122, 0.9x South Plainfield.
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 182, 1.3x South Plainfield.
North Plainfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 126, 0.9x South Plainfield.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. South Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plainfield, NJ | 55,236 | 122 | 0.9x |
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.3x |
| North Plainfield, NJ | 22,809 | 126 | 0.9x |
| Iselin, NJ | 19,551 | 131 | 1.0x |
| Metuchen, NJ | 15,144 | 149 | 1.1x |
| Highland Park, NJ | 15,121 | 134 | 1.0x |
| Middlesex, NJ | 14,645 | 128 | 0.9x |
| Bradley Gardens, NJ | 14,165 | 152 | 1.1x |
| Florham Park, NJ | 13,564 | 174 | 1.3x |
| Martinsville, NJ | 11,559 | 166 | 1.2x |
