New Brunswick, NJ vs Passaic, NJ

New Brunswick, NJ and Passaic, NJ have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.1% difference in their overall index. New Brunswick scores 120 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 New Brunswick is $1,790/month compared to $1,392/month in Passaic — a 29% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Passaic has cheaper rent, New Brunswick actually has lower median home values ($316,800 vs $406,500).

Median household income in New Brunswick is $60,248 compared to $56,780 in Passaic (+6.1%). While New Brunswick is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of New Brunswick spend roughly 35.7% of their income on rent, more than the 29.4% in Passaic. The Passaic ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.