F
43%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
132%
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 Waldwick New Jersey National
Cost of living143119100
Goods & Services105104100
Groceries104103100
Health care109111100
Housing232157100
Transportation103101100
Utilities104101100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Waldwick, NJ

The cost of living in Waldwick affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Waldwick is 143, which is 43% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Waldwick 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, Waldwick falls within this bracket.

Housing costs significantly influence the Waldwick cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 131.8%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

Is Waldwick Affordable?

Is Waldwick affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Waldwick, the median home price is 153.5% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 81.2% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Waldwick boasting a median household income of $188,198, 131.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Waldwick?

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 Waldwick, healthcare costs are 8.7% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Waldwick, the groceries index is 3.9% higher 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.

Where is the Data From?

The Waldwick cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Waldwick is 20% higher than the New Jersey average
  • The cost of living in Waldwick is 43% higher than the national average
  • Waldwick housing is 132% 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 Waldwick

See all the best places to live around Waldwick

Compare Waldwick, NJ Cost of Living

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      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$199,609$16,634$4,657$5,989
      Renters$112,808$9,401$2,632$3,385
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Waldwick, NJ, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Waldwick homeowners, is $199,609. This would allow for a maximum of $4,657 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $112,808 which would result in a maximum of $2,632 to be spent on rental 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 Waldwick 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 Waldwick 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 Waldwick 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 Waldwick National avg. Difference
      Home Price $827,878.00$326,622.00153.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,092.14$2,480.2524.7%
      Apartment Rent $2,617.00$1,444.0081.2%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Waldwick 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.
      Greenwood Lake, NY3,16811010.5%
      Paterson, NJ149,11811514.7%
      Mount Ivy, NY7,67512423.7%
      Haverstraw, NY12,43112525.0%
      West Haverstraw, NY10,53912525.0%
      Waldwick, NJ10,42214342.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Sleepy Hollow, NY10,42317474.3%
      Winterville, NC10,424936.8%
      Orange Cove, CA10,4251088.3%
      Tipp City, OH10,425981.7%
      Warr Acres, OK10,4258416.1%
      Waldwick, NJ10,42214342.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.