| Index | Garfield | New Jersey | National |
| Cost of living | 131 | 125 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 108 | 100 |
| Health care | 109 | 112 | 100 |
| Housing | 180 | 157 | 100 |
| Transportation | 111 | 114 | 100 |
| Utilities | 112 | 111 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 109 | 113 | 100 |
| Household Items | 108 | 107 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 116 | 120 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Garfield? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Garfield stands at 131, making it 31% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
The cost of living in Garfield is among the highest in the country, making it a very expensive place to live. Only a small fraction of regions boast a cost of living that is at least 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Garfield falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Garfield, 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 80% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
Is Garfield an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Garfield, the median home price is 96.3% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 42% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Garfield come in at $96,423, which is 18.6% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as 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 farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.
Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Garfield, the transportation index is 11% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Garfield, the groceries index is 8.8% higher than the national average.
The Garfield cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
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| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $121,183 | $10,099 | $2,827 | $3,636 |
| Renters | $80,685 | $6,724 | $1,883 | $2,421 |
| 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% |
| Silver Lake CDP (Warren County), NJ | 326 | 117 | 17.3% |
| Newark, NJ | 290,764 | 120 | 19.8% |
| Paterson, NJ | 149,118 | 122 | 21.5% |
| Prospect Park, NJ | 5,987 | 125 | 25.1% |
| Garfield, NJ | 32,363 | 131 | 31.2% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Southlake, TX | 32,343 | 163 | 63.0% |
| American Fork, UT | 32,330 | 120 | 20.1% |
| Needham, MA | 32,325 | 202 | 101.5% |
| Saratoga Springs, UT | 32,406 | 129 | 28.9% |
| Franklin Square, NY | 32,413 | 152 | 52.4% |
| Garfield, NJ | 32,363 | 131 | 31.2% |
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