| Index | New Brunswick | New Jersey | National |
| Cost of living | 124 | 125 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 108 | 100 |
| Health care | 114 | 112 | 100 |
| Housing | 149 | 157 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 114 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 111 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 112 | 113 | 100 |
| Household Items | 109 | 107 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 124 | 120 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in New Brunswick is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in New Brunswick is 124, which is 24% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.
If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, New Brunswick may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, New Brunswick falls within this bracket.
When it comes to the cost of living in New Brunswick, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 49.2% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.
When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 10 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in New Brunswick. The results indicated that 40% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 60% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.
Wondering if New Brunswick 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 New Brunswick, for example, the median home price is 45.1% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 58.9% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with New Brunswick boasting a median household income of $65,997, which is 18.9% lower than the national average.
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.
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 New Brunswick, the groceries index is 9.3% higher than the national average.
Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In New Brunswick, the housing index is 49.2% higher than the national average.
The New Brunswick cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
| 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 | $127,782 | $10,649 | $2,981 | $3,834 |
| Renters | $51,630 | $4,303 | $1,205 | $1,549 |
| 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. |
| Zarephath, NJ | 98 | 113 | 12.8% |
| Rossmoor, NJ | 2,769 | 104 | 3.7% |
| Clearbrook Park, NJ | 3,208 | 110 | 10.3% |
| Concordia, NJ | 2,620 | 114 | 14.0% |
| Roselle, NJ | 22,321 | 116 | 15.7% |
| New Brunswick, NJ | 57,400 | 124 | 23.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Carson City, NV | 57,373 | 116 | 16.0% |
| Commerce City, CO | 57,428 | 126 | 25.9% |
| Parker, CO | 57,520 | 142 | 41.7% |
| Euless, TX | 57,525 | 104 | 4.2% |
| Kendale Lakes, FL | 57,544 | 120 | 20.2% |
| New Brunswick, NJ | 57,400 | 124 | 23.7% |
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