Belmar, NJ vs Madison, NJ

Belmar is moderately more affordable than Madison, with a 12.1% lower cost of living index. Belmar scores 158 compared to 180 for Madison, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Madison can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Belmar is $1,832/month compared to $2,248/month in Madison — a 19% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Belmar is more affordable at $771,400 median vs $882,900.

Median household income in Belmar is $92,859 compared to $168,469 in Madison (-44.9%). While Madison is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Belmar spend roughly 23.7% of their income on rent, more than the 16% in Madison.