doxoINSIGHTS » New Jersey » Cost of Living in New Jersey: Cities Where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2025

Cost of Living in New Jersey: Cities Where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2025

What is the cost of living in New Jersey? doxo breaks down key insights about New Jersey’s household expenses, with a close look into how bills differ between towns and cities across the state. 

According to doxo’s The Cost of Bills Index™ (COBI), the average household in New Jersey pays $2,621 in monthly expenses. doxoINSIGHTS compares the cost of the ten most common household bills across different regions. This includes Utilities, Cable & Internet, Mobile Phone, Auto Loans, Auto Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Alarm & Security, Rent, and Mortgage.

The data sheds light on New Jersey’s cost of living through other metrics as well. For example, the “percent of household income” data point shows what percentage of their household income residents spend on bills each month. 

By leveraging these tools, residents can gain a clearer understanding of their household expenses and optimize their financial planning.

New Jersey ranks as the 3rd most expensive state in the US for household bills

According to doxo’s COBI report, New Jersey is ranked as the 3rd most expensive state in the U.S. for household bills.

At $31,452 per year, New Jersey’s household expenses, on average, are 27% higher than the US median of $24,695. 

Absolute dollar amounts don’t tell the full story, however. doxo’s “Percentage of Household Income” data provides a more proportional look at bill spending in a particular location. New Jersey households spend 29% of their income on bills. 

COBI helps consumers understand how much it costs to live in one area as compared to another as it relates to the most common household bills. For COBI, the number 100 represents the national median and then, states, counties and cities are assigned a number, either above or below 100, based on how they compare to the national median. The COBI for New Jersey is 127.

• Median Bill Cost per Household: $2,621 per month
• Cost of Bills Index(COBI): 127
• doxoINSIGHTS State Rank: #3
• Percent of Household Income Used for Bills: 29%
• Compared to the National Median: 27% higher 

New Jersey Household Expenses are 27% Higher Than the National Median

The average New Jersey household pays $2,621 per month in the 10 most common household bills. The least expensive of these are alarm and security bills. 

On the lowest end of the spectrum, the median monthly payment for alarm and security bills in New Jersey is $69, compared to the national median of $74, making it 7% lower than the national median.

Monthly mortgage bills are the most significant of the 10 most common bills for New Jersey residents. The median monthly mortgage payment is $2,533, compared to the national median of $1,775, making it 43% more expensive. 

Median New Jersey Household Bill Spending

*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).

Mount Freedom has the highest cost of living in New Jersey for household bills

Residents of Mount Freedom pay the highest household bills in the state of New Jersey, at a median of $4,158 per month. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Mount Freedom is 201, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 101% higher than the national median.

In proportion to household income, monthly bills in Mount Freedom make up 29% of the median annual household income of $170,862. 

Access detailed infographics about each city or town by clicking on the hyperlinks in the “City” column in the tables below. You can also browse doxoINSIGHTS’ regional bill comparison database to see infographics about more than 4,200 cities and towns across all 50 states in the US.

5 Most Expensive New Jersey Cities for Household Bills

*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).

Changewater has the lowest cost of living in New Jersey for household bills

Changewater is the most affordable place in New Jersey, with residents paying $833 on average for household bills, accounting for 8% of annual income of $119,576. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Changewater is 40, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 60% below the national median. 

South Seaville is the second most affordable city in New Jersey, with residents paying $1,099 per month on average.

Also on the list of the 5 least expensive cities in New Jersey are South Dennis ($1,099), Schooleys Mountain ($1,125) and Hibernia ($1,125).

5 Most Affordable New Jersey Cities for Household Bills

*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).

Some individuals might be considering moving from a more expensive city to a less expensive one. For those making such decisions, doxoINSIGHTS can be a valuable resource. It allows consumers to compare household expenses in New Jersey with average bills in various cities and states nationwide.