F
117%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
378%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Franklin Lakes New Jersey National
Cost of living217119100
Goods & Services105104100
Groceries104103100
Health care109111100
Housing478157100
Transportation103101100
Utilities104101100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Franklin Lakes, NJ

The cost of living in Franklin Lakes affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Franklin Lakes is 217, which is 117% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

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 Franklin Lakes 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, Franklin Lakes falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Franklin Lakes cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 377.8% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Franklin Lakes Affordable?

Wondering if Franklin Lakes is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Franklin Lakes, for example, the median home price is 461.5% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 182.5% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Franklin Lakes boasting a median household income of $269,878, which is 231.8% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Franklin Lakes?

Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Franklin Lakes, the housing index stands at 377.8% higher than the national average.

Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Franklin Lakes, the transportation index is 3% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Franklin Lakes cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Franklin Lakes is 81% higher than the New Jersey average
  • The cost of living in Franklin Lakes is 117% higher than the national average
  • Franklin Lakes housing is 378% higher than the national average
  • New Jersey general sales tax is 30% higher than the national average
  • New Jersey state income tax is 46% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Franklin Lakes

See all the best places to live around Franklin Lakes

Compare Franklin Lakes, NJ Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$298,520$24,877$6,965$8,956
      Renters$112,161$9,347$2,617$3,365
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Franklin Lakes, NJ, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Franklin Lakes, the median monthly income is $298,520 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $6,965 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $112,161, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $2,617 on monthly rental expenses.

      New Jersey Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      New Jersey 6.625% 12.625%

      New Jersey Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      New Jersey 1.4% 10.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Franklin Lakes National avg. Difference
      Haircut $31.67$27.6214.7%
      Beauty Salon $50.23$51.111.7%
      Toothpaste $4.05$4.091.0%
      Shampoo $1.60$1.543.8%
      Movie $15.48$12.8820.2%
      Yoga $26.12$19.6632.9%

      Groceries

      Item Franklin Lakes National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.55$7.702.0%
      Fried Chicken $1.63$1.661.9%
      Milk $5.00$4.735.6%
      Potatoes $5.23$5.260.5%
      Pizza $11.77$12.767.8%
      Beer $11.11$10.555.3%

      Health Care

      Item Franklin Lakes National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $110.19$140.0621.3%
      Doctor $209.56$153.8236.2%
      Dentist $141.87$123.1515.2%
      Ibuprofen $12.00$11.732.3%
      Lipitor $17.16$23.6127.3%

      Housing

      Item Franklin Lakes National avg. Difference
      Home Price $1,834,043.00$326,622.00461.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,092.14$2,480.2524.7%
      Apartment Rent $4,079.00$1,444.00182.5%

      Transportation

      Item Franklin Lakes National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.12$3.061.9%
      Tire Balancing $69.08$65.215.9%

      Utilities

      Item Franklin Lakes National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $236.94$220.127.6%
      Phone $190.55$195.712.6%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Greenwood Lake, NY3,16811010.5%
      Highland Lakes, NJ4,80111111.0%
      Paterson, NJ149,11811514.7%
      Mount Ivy, NY7,67512423.7%
      Haverstraw, NY12,43112525.0%
      Franklin Lakes, NJ11,324217116.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Woodmere, LA11,322955.1%
      Clearwater County, AB11,321n/a 
      Lindon, UT11,31812827.9%
      Spencer, IA11,3318613.6%
      Morgan City, LA11,3328613.6%
      Franklin Lakes, NJ11,324217116.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.