| Index | Clifton | New Jersey | National |
| Cost of living | 133 | 125 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 108 | 100 |
| Health care | 115 | 112 | 100 |
| Housing | 181 | 157 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 114 | 100 |
| Utilities | 112 | 111 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 113 | 113 | 100 |
| Household Items | 106 | 107 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 126 | 120 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Clifton allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Clifton stands at 133, marking it 33% higher than the national average.
If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Clifton is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Clifton falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Clifton, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 81.4% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
Is Clifton an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Clifton is 94.1% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 51.6% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Clifton has a median household income of $121,687, which is 49.6% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday household expenses, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Clifton, the standard sales tax rate starts at 6.625%, and the income tax rates commence at 1.4%.
Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Clifton, healthcare costs are 15.2% higher than the national average.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Clifton, the transportation index is 13% higher than the national average.
The cost of living estimates displayed for Clifton are modeled using a U.S. average baseline of 100, helping provide a useful comparison of local living expenses. Housing calculations include U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are AI-assisted estimates based on regional cost patterns, climate, transportation, and everyday spending expectations. These values are intended for directional comparisons across cities.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $163,588 | $13,632 | $3,817 | $4,908 |
| Renters | $77,861 | $6,488 | $1,817 | $2,336 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| New Jersey | 6.625% | 12.625% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| New Jersey | 1.4% | 10.75% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| East Orange, NJ | 66,655 | 115 | 15.1% |
| Roselle, NJ | 22,321 | 116 | 15.7% |
| Silver Lake CDP (Warren County), NJ | 326 | 117 | 17.3% |
| Newark, NJ | 290,764 | 120 | 19.8% |
| Paterson, NJ | 149,118 | 122 | 21.5% |
| Clifton, NJ | 87,331 | 133 | 33.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Hemet, CA | 87,279 | 118 | 17.7% |
| Bloomington, MN | 87,234 | 112 | 12.0% |
| Troy, MI | 87,197 | 116 | 16.3% |
| Redwood City, CA | 87,093 | 269 | 168.7% |
| Johns Creek, GA | 87,090 | 133 | 32.6% |
| Clifton, NJ | 87,331 | 133 | 33.4% |
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