Colonia, NJ vs Fair Lawn, NJ

Colonia, NJ and Fair Lawn, NJ have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.3% difference in their overall index. Colonia scores 138 while Fair Lawn scores 141 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Colonia is $1,964/month compared to $1,908/month in Fair Lawn — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fair Lawn has cheaper rent, Colonia actually has lower median home values ($473,200 vs $532,700).

Median household income in Colonia is $134,301 compared to $147,952 in Fair Lawn (-9.2%). While Fair Lawn is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Colonia spend roughly 17.5% of their income on rent, more than the 15.5% in Fair Lawn.