Garfield, NJ vs Union City, NJ

Garfield, NJ and Union City, NJ have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.6% difference in their overall index. Garfield scores 126 while Union City scores 121 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 Garfield is $1,612/month compared to $1,489/month in Union City — a 8% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Union City is more affordable at $446,800 median vs $454,300.

Median household income in Garfield is $75,701 compared to $65,369 in Union City (+15.8%). While Garfield is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Garfield spend roughly 25.6% of their income on rent, less than the 27.3% in Union City.