F
28%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
80%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Iselin New Jersey National
Cost of living128119100
Goods & Services105104100
Groceries102103100
Health care117111100
Housing180157100
Transportation105101100
Utilities103101100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Iselin, NJ

Understanding the cost of living in Iselin can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Iselin cost of living index is 128, which is 28% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Iselin may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Iselin falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Iselin cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 80.2% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Iselin Affordable?

Wondering if Iselin 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 Iselin, for example, the median home price is 75.8% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 90.5% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Iselin boasting a median household income of $148,071, which is 82.1% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Iselin?

Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Iselin, the utilities index stands at 3.1% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Iselin starts at 6.625% and the income tax rates start at 1.4%.

Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Iselin 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. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Iselin is 7% higher than the New Jersey average
  • The cost of living in Iselin is 28% higher than the national average
  • Iselin housing is 80% 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 Iselin

See all the best places to live around Iselin

Compare Iselin, 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$159,991$13,333$3,733$4,800
      Renters$139,999$11,667$3,266$4,200
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Iselin, 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 Iselin, the median monthly income is $159,991 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $3,733 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $139,999, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $3,266 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 Iselin National avg. Difference
      Haircut $31.72$27.6214.9%
      Beauty Salon $51.53$51.110.8%
      Toothpaste $4.02$4.091.8%
      Shampoo $1.63$1.545.7%
      Movie $14.04$12.889.0%
      Yoga $23.89$19.6621.5%

      Groceries

      Item Iselin National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.53$7.702.3%
      Fried Chicken $1.58$1.665.0%
      Milk $4.95$4.734.6%
      Potatoes $5.19$5.261.3%
      Pizza $11.77$12.767.8%
      Beer $10.90$10.553.3%

      Health Care

      Item Iselin National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $198.30$140.0641.6%
      Doctor $235.47$153.8253.1%
      Dentist $142.61$123.1515.8%
      Ibuprofen $12.15$11.733.6%
      Lipitor $16.81$23.6128.8%

      Housing

      Item Iselin National avg. Difference
      Home Price $574,356.00$326,622.0075.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,522.55$2,480.2542.0%
      Apartment Rent $2,751.00$1,444.0090.5%

      Transportation

      Item Iselin National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.96$3.063.0%
      Tire Balancing $81.13$65.2124.4%

      Utilities

      Item Iselin National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $235.08$220.126.8%
      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.
      Zarephath, NJ981054.9%
      Keansburg, NJ10,0501109.9%
      East Orange, NJ66,65511010.2%
      Roselle, NJ22,32111211.5%
      Silver Lake CDP (Warren County), NJ32611212.3%
      Iselin, NJ17,97312827.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      South Houston, TX17,971909.9%
      Kingstowne, VA17,96715151.4%
      Tillmans Corner, AL17,9808911.1%
      Hannibal, MO17,9808514.9%
      Palmview, TX17,9837920.7%
      Iselin, NJ17,97312827.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.