What is the cost of living in Toms River, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Toms River has an overall cost of living index of 128, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Toms River has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Toms River ranks as #105 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Toms River ranks as the #157 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Toms River, check out:
Toms River Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Toms River. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Toms River is 108.
The Groceries index in Toms River is 114.
The Health index in Toms River is 162.
The Housing index in Toms River is 118.
The Transportation index in Toms River is 115.
The Utilities index in Toms River is 113.
| Living Expense | Toms River | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 128 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 162 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 113 | 100 |
Toms 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 Toms River Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Toms 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 Toms River is $456,691.
The Median Rent in Toms River is $1,731.
The Median Income in Toms River is $100,137.
The Home Value To Income in Toms River is 4.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Toms River is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Toms River | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $456,691 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,731 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $100,137 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.6x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Toms River, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Toms River Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Toms 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 Toms River Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Toms 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 Toms River Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Toms River | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.1 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $129.94 | $113.29 |
Detailed Toms River Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Toms River | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $72.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Toms River Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Toms River | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.08 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Toms River SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Toms River
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Toms River. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Lakewood, NJ has a cost of living index of 151, 1.2x Toms River.
Tinton Falls, NJ has a cost of living index of 139, 1.1x Toms River.
Ocean Acres, NJ has a cost of living index of 128, 1.0x Toms River.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Toms River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood, NJ | 69,585 | 151 | 1.2x |
| Tinton Falls, NJ | 19,361 | 139 | 1.1x |
| Ocean Acres, NJ | 19,204 | 128 | 1.0x |
| West Freehold, NJ | 14,883 | 140 | 1.1x |
| Holiday City-Berkeley, NJ | 12,995 | 114 | 0.9x |
| Freehold, NJ | 12,507 | 130 | 1.0x |
| Beachwood, NJ | 11,088 | 124 | 1.0x |
| Pine Lake Park, NJ | 9,795 | 123 | 1.0x |
| Ramtown, NJ | 6,203 | 142 | 1.1x |
| East Freehold, NJ | 5,096 | 155 | 1.2x |








