Watchung, NJ Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Watchung, NJ Summary

Cost of living in Watchung research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Watchung is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in New Jersey, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Watchung is 174, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Watchung is 1.7x higher than the national average.

  • Watchung ranks as the #234 cheapest in New Jersey out of 251.

  • Watchung ranks as the #6,169 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Watchung is $708,300.

  • The median income in Watchung is $143,889.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
174
Watchung's Overall Cost Of Living
1.7x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Watchung, NJ?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Watchung has an overall cost of living index of 174, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to New Jersey, Watchung has a cost of living index that's 1.6x higher than New Jersey's index of 111.

The standard of living in Watchung ranks as #234 most affordable out of the 251 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Watchung ranks as the #17 most expensive place in the Garden State.

For more reading on life in Watchung, check out:

234 out of 251
In New Jersey
6,169 out of 6,412
In America

Watchung Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Watchung. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Watchung is 113.

  • The Groceries index in Watchung is 106.

  • The Health index in Watchung is 100.

  • The Housing index in Watchung is 334.

  • The Transportation index in Watchung is 107.

  • The Utilities index in Watchung is 103.

Living Expense Watchung New Jersey National Average
Overall 174 111 100
Services 113 104 100
Groceries 106 104 100
Health 100 95 100
Housing 334 130 100
Transportation 107 106 100
Utilities 103 108 100
For more reading on cost of living around New Jersey, check out:
Watchung Cost of Living Vs. NJ

Watchung, NJ Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Jersey, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Watchung is $708,300.

  • The Median Rent in Watchung is $2,269.

  • The Median Income in Watchung is $143,889.

  • The Home Value To Income in Watchung is 4.9x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Watchung is 0.19x.

Statistic Watchung New Jersey United States
Median Home Value $708,300 $355,700 $244,900
Median Rent $2,269 $1,436 $1,163
Median Income $143,889 $89,703 $69,021
Home Value To Income 4.9x 4.0x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.19x 0.19x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Watchung, NJ
$708,300
Median Home Value
$2,269
Median Rent
$143,889
Median Income

Watchung, NJ Costs By Category

Detailed Watchung Services Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Watchung New Jersey
Shampoo $1.03 $1.06
Movie $12.59 $10.68
Bowling $17.73 $14.67
Haircut $20.73 $18.62
Beauty Salon $36.4 $39.05

Detailed Watchung Groceries Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Watchung New Jersey
Ground Beef $3.87 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.67 $1.39
Milk $2.41 $2.05
Potatoes $3.09 $3.29
Pizza $11.4 $10.62
Beer $9.19 $9.38
Toothpaste $2.16 $2.34

Detailed Watchung Health Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Watchung New Jersey
Optometrist $101.33 $108.57
Doctor $94.5 $116.17
Dentist $113.15 $99.13

Detailed Watchung Transportation Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Watchung New Jersey
Gasoline $2.26 $2.22
Tire Balancing $56.66 $50.07

Detailed Watchung Utilities Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Watchung New Jersey
All Electricity $174.26 $167.67
Phone $179.87 $175.64

Watchung SnackAbility

9.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
9/10
Housing
10
Affordability
6
Diversity
8
Safety
8
Amenities
7
Education
10
Commute
3

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Watchung

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Watchung. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Plainfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 114, 0.7x Watchung.

  • Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 170, 1.0x Watchung.

  • South Plainfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 126, 0.7x Watchung.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Watchung
Plainfield, NJ 54,183 114 0.7x
Westfield, NJ 30,950 170 1.0x
South Plainfield, NJ 24,251 126 0.7x
North Plainfield, NJ 22,635 119 0.7x
Bradley Gardens, NJ 14,798 144 0.8x
Middlesex, NJ 14,513 123 0.7x
New Providence, NJ 13,570 154 0.9x
Florham Park, NJ 12,655 165 0.9x
Martinsville, NJ 11,980 155 0.9x
Succasunna, NJ 9,530 134 0.8x

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