South River, NJ Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In South River, NJ Summary

Cost of living in South River research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means South River is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in New Jersey, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in South River is 121, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in South River is 1.2x higher than the national average.

  • South River ranks as the #93 cheapest in New Jersey out of 260.

  • South River ranks as the #4,476 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in South River is $524,757.

  • The median income in South River is $101,853.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
121
South River's Overall Cost Of Living
1.2x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in South River, NJ?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, South River has an overall cost of living index of 121, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to New Jersey, South River has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than New Jersey's index of 122.

The standard of living in South River ranks as #93 most affordable out of the 260 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies South River ranks as the #167 most expensive place in the Garden State.

For more reading on life in South River, check out:

93 out of 260
In New Jersey
4,476 out of 6,489
In America

South River Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South River. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in South River is 109.

  • The Groceries index in South River is 103.

  • The Health index in South River is 102.

  • The Housing index in South River is 161.

  • The Transportation index in South River is 104.

  • The Utilities index in South River is 108.

Living Expense South River New Jersey National Average
Overall 121 122 100
Services 109 108 100
Groceries 103 104 100
Health 102 99 100
Housing 161 159 100
Transportation 104 101 100
Utilities 108 107 100
For more reading on cost of living around New Jersey, check out:
South River Cost of Living Vs. NJ

South River, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in South River is $524,757.

  • The Median Rent in South River is $1,599.

  • The Median Income in South River is $101,853.

  • The Home Value To Income in South River is 5.2x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in South River is 0.19x.

Statistic South River New Jersey United States
Median Home Value $524,757 $564,432 $303,400
Median Rent $1,599 $1,653 $1,348
Median Income $101,853 $101,050 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.2x 5.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.19x 0.2x 0.21x
$524,757
Median Home Value
$1,599
Median Rent
$101,853
Median Income

South River, NJ Costs By Category

Detailed South River Services Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item South River 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 River Groceries Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item South River 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 River Health Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item South River New Jersey
Optometrist $129.93 $125.68
Doctor $124.1 $135.78
Dentist $129.94 $113.29

Detailed South River Transportation Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item South River New Jersey
Gasoline $3.41 $3.46
Tire Balancing $72.38 $59.92

Detailed South River Utilities Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item South River New Jersey
All Electricity $223.08 $193.99
Phone $186.61 $192.25

South River SnackAbility

8
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
6
Diversity
8.5
Safety
8
Amenities
9
Education
6
Commute
5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around South River

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around South River. 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 118, 1.0x South River.

  • Sayreville, NJ has a cost of living index of 125, 1.0x South River.

  • Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 178, 1.5x South River.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. South River
New Brunswick, NJ 55,744 118 1.0x
Sayreville, NJ 45,237 125 1.0x
Westfield, NJ 30,760 178 1.5x
Old Bridge, NJ 28,015 128 1.1x
Colonia, NJ 18,294 131 1.1x
Highland Park, NJ 14,981 133 1.1x
Middlesex, NJ 14,518 126 1.0x
Bradley Gardens, NJ 14,315 150 1.2x
New Providence, NJ 13,577 160 1.3x
Martinsville, NJ 12,016 159 1.3x

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