F
28%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
84%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Harrison New Jersey National
Cost of living128119100
Goods & Services105104100
Groceries104103100
Health care109111100
Housing184157100
Transportation103101100
Utilities104101100
Does this Area Fit Your Budget? Local Insights Report
  • Know the community before you call it home
  • Compare multiple areas side by side
  • Access over 300 data points for any address
Local Insights Report

An Overview of Cost of Living in Harrison, NJ

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Harrison? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Harrison stands at 128, making it 28% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Harrison is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Harrison falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Harrison, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 84% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Is Harrison Affordable?

Is Harrison an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Harrison is 91.2% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 67.2% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Harrison has a median household income of $101,214, which is 24.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Harrison?

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Harrison, the groceries index is 3.9% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In Harrison, the transportation index is 3% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Harrison, healthcare costs are 8.7% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Harrison, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Harrison is 8% higher than the New Jersey average
  • The cost of living in Harrison is 28% higher than the national average
  • Harrison housing is 84% 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 Harrison

See all the best places to live around Harrison

Compare Harrison, NJ Cost of Living

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs
      Compare Neighborhoods & Addresses Local Insights Report

      Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.

      Local Insights Report
      How would you rate the cost of living in Harrison?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Harrison?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Harrison 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$133,824$11,152$3,122$4,015
      Renters$89,851$7,488$2,096$2,696
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Harrison, NJ, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Harrison, homeowners have a median income of $133,824. Using that number, a maximum of $3,122 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $89,851, which means there is a maximum of $2,096 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 Harrison National avg. Difference
      Haircut $31.67$27.6214.7%
      Beauty Salon $50.23$51.111.7%
      Toothpaste $4.05$4.091.0%
      Shampoo $1.60$1.543.8%
      Movie $15.48$12.8820.2%
      Yoga $26.12$19.6632.9%

      Groceries

      Item Harrison National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.55$7.702.0%
      Fried Chicken $1.63$1.661.9%
      Milk $5.00$4.735.6%
      Potatoes $5.23$5.260.5%
      Pizza $11.77$12.767.8%
      Beer $11.11$10.555.3%

      Health Care

      Item Harrison National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $110.19$140.0621.3%
      Doctor $209.56$153.8236.2%
      Dentist $141.87$123.1515.2%
      Ibuprofen $12.00$11.732.3%
      Lipitor $17.16$23.6127.3%

      Housing

      Item Harrison National avg. Difference
      Home Price $624,399.00$326,622.0091.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,092.14$2,480.2524.7%
      Apartment Rent $2,415.00$1,444.0067.2%

      Transportation

      Item Harrison National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.12$3.061.9%
      Tire Balancing $69.08$65.215.9%

      Utilities

      Item Harrison National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $236.94$220.127.6%
      Phone $190.55$195.712.6%
      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.
      East Orange, NJ66,65511010.2%
      Roselle, NJ22,32111211.5%
      Silver Lake CDP (Warren County), NJ32611212.3%
      Newark, NJ290,76411413.7%
      Paterson, NJ149,11811514.7%
      Harrison, NJ18,73212828.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Sudley, VA18,73012525.1%
      Schofield Barracks, HI18,72418685.6%
      St. Marys, GA18,720982.4%
      North Aurora, IL18,75411110.6%
      Burlington, KY18,7551000.1%
      Harrison, NJ18,73212828.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.