What is the cost of living in Union Beach, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Union Beach has an overall cost of living index of 127, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Union Beach has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Union Beach ranks as #100 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Union Beach ranks as the #162 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Union Beach, check out:
Union Beach Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Union Beach. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Union Beach is 106.
The Groceries index in Union Beach is 108.
The Health index in Union Beach is 162.
The Housing index in Union Beach is 118.
The Transportation index in Union Beach is 109.
The Utilities index in Union Beach is 115.
| Living Expense | Union Beach | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 127 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 108 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 162 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 113 | 100 |
Union Beach 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 Union Beach Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Union Beach, 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 Union Beach is $527,337.
The Median Rent in Union Beach is $2,567.
The Median Income in Union Beach is $119,250.
The Home Value To Income in Union Beach is 4.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Union Beach is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Union Beach | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $527,337 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,567 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $119,250 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.4x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Union Beach, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Union Beach Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Union Beach | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.48 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.78 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.62 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $41.67 | $45.56 |
Detailed Union Beach Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Union Beach | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.65 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.71 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.37 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.33 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Union Beach Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Union Beach | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $157.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $115.59 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $124.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Union Beach Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Union Beach | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $82.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Union Beach Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Union Beach | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $236.04 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Union Beach SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Union Beach
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Union Beach. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 182, 1.4x Union Beach.
Colonia, NJ has a cost of living index of 136, 1.1x Union Beach.
West Freehold, NJ has a cost of living index of 140, 1.1x Union Beach.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Union Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.4x |
| Colonia, NJ | 18,587 | 136 | 1.1x |
| West Freehold, NJ | 14,883 | 140 | 1.1x |
| Middlesex, NJ | 14,645 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Keansburg, NJ | 9,719 | 114 | 0.9x |
| Matawan, NJ | 9,710 | 133 | 1.0x |
| Fanwood, NJ | 7,799 | 154 | 1.2x |
| Yorketown, NJ | 7,261 | 142 | 1.1x |
| Keyport, NJ | 7,171 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Mountainside, NJ | 7,049 | 183 | 1.4x |
