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 127, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, South River has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in South River ranks as #100 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies South River ranks as the #162 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in South River, check out:
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 fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in South River is 107.
The Groceries index in South River is 110.
The Health index in South River is 163.
The Housing index in South River is 113.
The Transportation index in South River is 108.
The Utilities index in South River is 113.
| Living Expense | South River | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 127 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 163 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 113 | 100 |
South River 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 River Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in South River is $528,551.
The Median Rent in South River is $1,675.
The Median Income in South River is $96,147.
The Home Value To Income in South River is 5.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in South River is 0.21x.
| Statistic | South River | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $528,551 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,675 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $96,147 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.5x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
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
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 122, 1.0x South River.
Sayreville, NJ has a cost of living index of 126, 1.0x South River.
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 182, 1.4x South River.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. South River |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick, NJ | 56,345 | 122 | 1.0x |
| Sayreville, NJ | 45,838 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.4x |
| Old Bridge, NJ | 28,236 | 129 | 1.0x |
| Colonia, NJ | 18,587 | 136 | 1.1x |
| Highland Park, NJ | 15,121 | 134 | 1.1x |
| Middlesex, NJ | 14,645 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Bradley Gardens, NJ | 14,165 | 152 | 1.2x |
| New Providence, NJ | 13,727 | 167 | 1.3x |
| Martinsville, NJ | 11,559 | 166 | 1.3x |
