Elizabeth, NJ vs Passaic, NJ

Elizabeth, NJ and Passaic, NJ have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.9% difference in their overall index. Elizabeth scores 116 while Passaic scores 115 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 Elizabeth is $1,463/month compared to $1,392/month in Passaic — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Passaic has cheaper rent, Elizabeth actually has lower median home values ($393,500 vs $406,500).

Median household income in Elizabeth is $63,874 compared to $56,780 in Passaic (+12.5%). While Elizabeth is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Elizabeth spend roughly 27.5% of their income on rent, less than the 29.4% in Passaic.