East Orange, NJ vs Union City, NJ

East Orange is moderately more affordable than Union City, with a 11.8% lower cost of living index. East Orange scores 107 compared to 121 for Union City, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Union City can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in East Orange is $1,372/month compared to $1,489/month in Union City — a 8% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: East Orange is more affordable at $315,500 median vs $446,800.

Median household income in East Orange is $59,872 compared to $65,369 in Union City (-8.4%). The higher salaries in Union City partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of East Orange spend roughly 27.5% of their income on rent, more than the 27.3% in Union City.