What is the cost of living in Watchung, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Watchung has an overall cost of living index of 182, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Watchung has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Watchung ranks as #245 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Watchung ranks as the #17 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Watchung, check out:
Watchung Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Watchung. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Watchung is 110.
The Groceries index in Watchung is 115.
The Health index in Watchung is 351.
The Housing index in Watchung is 117.
The Transportation index in Watchung is 112.
The Utilities index in Watchung is 116.
| Living Expense | Watchung | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 182 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 351 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 116 | 113 | 100 |
Watchung 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 Watchung Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Watchung, 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 Watchung is $1,060,984.
The Median Rent in Watchung is $2,738.
The Median Income in Watchung is $173,672.
The Home Value To Income in Watchung is 6.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Watchung is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Watchung | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,060,984 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,738 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $173,672 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.1x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Watchung, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Watchung Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Watchung | 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 Watchung Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Watchung | 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 Watchung Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Watchung | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.1 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $129.94 | $113.29 |
Detailed Watchung Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Watchung | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $72.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Watchung Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Watchung | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.08 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Watchung SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Watchung
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Watchung. 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, 0.7x Watchung.
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 182, 1.0x Watchung.
South Plainfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 136, 0.7x Watchung.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Watchung |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plainfield, NJ | 55,236 | 122 | 0.7x |
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.0x |
| South Plainfield, NJ | 24,473 | 136 | 0.7x |
| North Plainfield, NJ | 22,809 | 126 | 0.7x |
| Middlesex, NJ | 14,645 | 128 | 0.7x |
| Bradley Gardens, NJ | 14,165 | 152 | 0.8x |
| New Providence, NJ | 13,727 | 167 | 0.9x |
| Florham Park, NJ | 13,564 | 174 | 1.0x |
| Martinsville, NJ | 11,559 | 166 | 0.9x |
| Succasunna, NJ | 9,799 | 141 | 0.8x |
