| Index | Plainfield | New Jersey | National |
| Cost of living | 122 | 125 | 100 |
| Groceries | 108 | 108 | 100 |
| Health care | 114 | 112 | 100 |
| Housing | 145 | 157 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 114 | 100 |
| Utilities | 111 | 111 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 114 | 113 | 100 |
| Household Items | 105 | 107 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 116 | 120 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Plainfield 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 Plainfield stands at 122, marking it 22% higher than the national average.
If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Plainfield 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, Plainfield falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Plainfield, 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 44.8% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 5 residents in Plainfield to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 60% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 40% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.
Is Plainfield affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Plainfield, the median home price is 50.6% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 31.1% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Plainfield boasting a median household income of $85,643, 5.3% higher than the national average.
Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Plainfield, the housing index is 44.8% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Plainfield, healthcare costs are 13.5% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from 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 crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.
The Plainfield cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical 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 | $143,665 | $11,972 | $3,352 | $4,310 |
| Renters | $59,495 | $4,958 | $1,388 | $1,785 |
| 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% |
| Keansburg, NJ | 10,050 | 114 | 14.1% |
| 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% |
| Plainfield, NJ | 51,295 | 122 | 21.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Enid, OK | 51,301 | 88 | 11.9% |
| Poway, CA | 51,311 | 179 | 78.8% |
| Lakewood, OH | 51,262 | 94 | 6.2% |
| North Bethesda, MD | 51,238 | 162 | 62.1% |
| East Hartford, CT | 51,352 | 105 | 5.2% |
| Plainfield, NJ | 51,295 | 122 | 21.5% |
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