Cost of Living in Union City, NJ

With a cost of living index of 121, Union City, NJ is a notably expensive place to live. Living here is 21% more expensive than the national average and 6% below the New Jersey state average of 128. With a population of 66,375, Union City is a mid-sized community that balances access to services with a more manageable cost of living compared to larger metros.

Housing costs are the biggest factor in Union City's cost of living. The median monthly rent is $1,489 (13% above the US median of $1,319), and the median home value sits at $446,800 (47% above the national median of $304,900). At current prices, the median home costs roughly 6.8x the median household income — a challenging ratio that puts homeownership out of reach for many residents.

The median household income in Union City is $65,369, which is 13% lower than the national median of $75,149. Residents spend roughly 27% of household income on rent. This is near the 30% threshold that financial experts generally consider the upper limit of affordability.

Everyday prices in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ (Metropolitan Statistical Area) metro area tend to run above the national average. Out of 6 common grocery and utility items tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 6 are priced higher than the US average. These real-world prices — from groceries to electricity — add up and should be factored into any cost of living comparison.

Data sources: US Census Bureau (ACS 2023), Zillow Home Values, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities, BLS Average Prices, and NOAA Climate Normals. Updated monthly.