Cost of Living in Elizabeth, NJ
Cost of Living in Elizabeth, NJ has an overall index of 134, 34% above the U.S. baseline of 100. The typical home value is $533,247; typical monthly rent is $1,463; and median household income is $63,874.
Cost index: committed city housing/rent inputs and BEA 2024 metro-area price parities. Home value: Zillow ZHVI market signal as of 2026-02. Rent: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. A place-level signal, not a personal affordability decision or financial recommendation.
Home prices are the main source of pressure. This describes the local market, not your household.
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Frequently asked questions about Elizabeth
Living in Elizabeth
Is Elizabeth, NJ an expensive place to live?+
Yes — Elizabeth is about 34% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 134. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $533,247, and monthly rents average roughly $1,463. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run higher than average as well.
How does Elizabeth fit a household housing budget?+
Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,463, while local median household income is $63,874. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 27% before utilities and other costs. Use that as a planning signal for whether the place looks manageable under your own household assumptions.
How much are taxes in Elizabeth, NJ?+
New Jersey uses a progressive model; 10.75% is top marginal-rate context. Applying the 2.47% state-level effective owner-occupied proxy to a home worth $533,247 gives a planning estimate near $13,171 per year; it is not a city, county, parcel, or individual tax bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is around 6.6%.
How much does it cost to rent in Elizabeth, NJ?+
The typical monthly rent in Elizabeth is around $1,463. That's close to the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $533,247, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.
How much does a house cost in Elizabeth, NJ?+
The typical home value in Elizabeth is $533,247. With 20% down and the committed 6.11% national 30-year fixed benchmark as of 2026-03-12, principal and interest are roughly $2,588/month before property tax and insurance. This is a planning estimate, not a local lender quote. About 25% of residents here own their homes.
Are groceries and utilities expensive in Elizabeth?+
Grocery prices in Elizabeth are noticeably pricier compared to the rest of the US (index: 110, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are on the high side (index: 127). Both add meaningful weight to your monthly budget here.
What is Elizabeth, NJ like to live in?+
Elizabeth is a mid-sized city with a population of about 135,887. The median age of residents is 35.8, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 15.3%, near the national average of 12.4%.