F
72%
Overall NAT. AVG.
0%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
241%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Madison New Jersey National
Cost of living172121100
Goods & Services100106100
Groceries102102100
Health care9999100
Housing341158100
Transportation95103100
Utilities102107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Madison, NJ

Understanding the cost of living in Madison can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Madison cost of living index is 172, which is 72% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Madison may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Madison falls within this bracket.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Madison cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 241.3% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Madison Affordable?

Wondering if Madison is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Madison, for example, the median home price is 301.4% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 101.1% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Madison boasting a median household income of $157,188, which is 184.1% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Madison?

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Madison, the transportation index is 4.7% lower than the national average.

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Madison cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

New Real Estate Listings in Madison Area
Search Homes for Sale in Madison, NJ

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Madison is 43% higher than the New Jersey average
  • The cost of living in Madison is 72% higher than the national average
  • Madison housing is 241% higher than the national average
  • New Jersey general sales tax is 30% higher than the national average
  • New Jersey state income tax is 46% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Madison

See all the best places to live around Madison

Compare Madison, NJ Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in Madison?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Madison?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Madison poll results

      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$189,120$15,760$4,413$5,674
      Renters$84,663$7,055$1,975$2,540
      The affordability of the housing market in Madison, NJ as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Madison homeowners, the median income is $189,120. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $4,413 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $84,663. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,975 for their rent related monthly costs.

      New Jersey Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      New Jersey 6.625% 12.625%

      New Jersey Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      New Jersey 1.4% 10.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Madison National avg. Difference
      Haircut $29.17$24.2620.2%
      Beauty Salon $40.36$45.5611.4%
      Toothpaste $3.66$3.701.2%
      Shampoo $1.44$1.2812.1%
      Movie $14.15$12.1316.6%
      Bowling $25.03$18.0039.0%

      Groceries

      Item Madison National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.64$5.843.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.55$1.571.4%
      Milk $4.74$4.671.5%
      Potatoes $5.21$4.935.7%
      Pizza $11.49$12.094.9%
      Beer $11.66$10.4112.0%

      Health Care

      Item Madison National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $105.11$125.6816.4%
      Doctor $117.94$135.7813.1%
      Dentist $121.22$113.297.0%
      Ibuprofen $11.05$10.653.7%
      Lipitor $427.79$468.608.7%

      Housing

      Item Madison National avg. Difference
      Home Price $741,300.00$184,700.00301.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,303.56$2,346.6940.8%
      Apartment Rent $1,908.00$949.00101.1%

      Transportation

      Item Madison National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.45$3.460.2%
      Tire Balancing $77.33$59.9229.1%

      Utilities

      Item Madison National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $230.68$193.9918.9%
      Phone $186.61$192.252.9%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Victory Gardens, NJ1,6041011.2%
      East Orange, NJ64,65011111.1%
      Roselle, NJ21,69911212.0%
      Silver Lake CDP (Warren County), NJ32011313.2%
      Newark, NJ281,91711414.0%
      Madison, NJ16,64717272.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      McKinleyville, CA16,64512221.7%
      Ham Lake, MN16,63011514.9%
      Sikeston, MO16,6648613.8%
      Truckee, CA16,66615757.4%
      Waterville, ME16,623963.7%
      Madison, NJ16,64717272.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.