Last update: Oct 2026 United States 79.6K

Cost of Living in Clifton, NJ

For one person, living costs in Clifton, NJ are estimated at $2,793 a month, including rent and utilities, which take more than half of the total. Other living expenses average about $39 a day.

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Clifton, NJ

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Clifton, NJ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends around $2,793 per month with rent, or $1,176 for everyday expenses alone.

$2,793 /mo

A couple spends around $4,040 per month with rent, or $2,021 for everyday expenses alone.

$4,040 /mo

A family of three spends around $5,286 per month with rent, or $2,866 without housing.

$5,286 /mo
Currency
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🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.35 $22.35
$14.90 $14.90
$24.84 $24.84
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.9 $78.9
$59.2 $59.2
$98.6 $98.6
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.04 $13.04
$12.04 $12.04
$14.05 $14.05
Cappuccino
$6.57 $6.57
$5.01 $5.01
$8.02 $8.02
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.03 $2.03
$2.79 $2.79
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.51 $1.51
$2.02 $2.02
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.98 $7.98
$5.98 $5.98
$11.96 $11.96
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.09 $7.09
$5.07 $5.07
$12.16 $12.16
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.03 $1.03
$1.90 $1.90
White Bread (500g)
$4.38 $4.38
$3.22 $3.22
$6.44 $6.44
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.23 $6.23
$2.92 $2.92
$20.57 $20.57
Eggs
$5.88 $5.88
$2.93 $2.93
$8.78 $8.78
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.92 $13.92
$8.24 $8.24
$24.15 $24.15
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.20 $10.20
$8.73 $8.73
$15.31 $15.31
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.72 $18.72
$11.00 $11.00
$30.81 $30.81
Apples (1kg)
$5.97 $5.97
$4.33 $4.33
$6.52 $6.52
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.38 $1.38
$4.30 $4.30
Oranges (1kg)
$6.17 $6.17
$3.27 $3.27
$6.53 $6.53
Tomato (1kg)
$5.38 $5.38
$2.88 $2.88
$8.93 $8.93
Potato (1kg)
$3.65 $3.65
$2.19 $2.19
$4.44 $4.44
Onion (1kg)
$4.43 $4.43
$2.21 $2.21
$4.43 $4.43
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.10 $3.10
$1.52 $1.52
$3.54 $3.54
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.77 $1.77
$4.04 $4.04
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.84 $17.84
$14.42 $14.42
$19.82 $19.82
Wine (Bottle)
$15.22 $15.22
$11.16 $11.16
$20.29 $20.29
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.68 $1.68
$4.16 $4.16
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.06 $2.06
$7.21 $7.21
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.47 $4.47
$2.80 $2.80
$6.12 $6.12
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 $2.93
$2.93 $2.93
$5.37 $5.37
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.11 $2.11
$3.03 $3.03
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.80 $41.80
$41.80 $41.80
$41.80 $41.80
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 $1.15
$0.85 $0.85
$1.21 $1.21
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K $35.0K
$30.6K $30.6K
$36.7K $36.7K
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$24.7K $24.7K
$25.7K $25.7K
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 $217
$131 $131
$453 $453
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.1 $51.1
$37.19 $37.19
$66.3 $66.3
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.3 $66.3
$49.09 $49.09
$88.4 $88.4
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.82 $28.82
$16.89 $16.89
$44.72 $44.72
Cinema Ticket
$20.01 $20.01
$16.80 $16.80
$23.72 $23.72
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,968 $1,968
$1,476 $1,476
$2,461 $2,461
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K $15.8K
$15.8K $15.8K
$71.1K $71.1K
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.41 $31.41
$24.79 $24.79
$99.2 $99.2
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.70 $19.70
$19.70 $19.70
$73.9 $73.9
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 $109
$81.5 $81.5
$127 $127
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 $133
$80.6 $80.6
$201 $201
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,335 $1,335
$989 $989
$1,681 $1,681
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,400 $1,400
$900 $900
$1,799 $1,799
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,820 $2,820
$2,672 $2,672
$2,969 $2,969
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,203 $2,203
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,451 $8,451
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,212 $4,212
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.8
6
7.58

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Clifton, NJ $2,793
Accommodation & Living
$1.4K
Groceries & Markets
$458
Eating Out
$368
Monthly Utilities & Internet
$335
Clothing & Footwear
$132
Sport & Entertainment
$69
Getting Around
$31 *

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $1,335, dropping to $1,400 outside central areas. Housing accounts for roughly 32% of the average salary ($4,212) – well above the 30% international benchmark.

The average net salary is $4,212 – comfortably above monthly costs of $2,793. Most workers can save and live well. A comfortable lifestyle typically starts at $4,189.

Groceries cost around $458 per month for one person. A mid-range dinner for two is priced at $79.0.

Cost Highlights

Cappuccino is more expensive than 98% of cities in North America

Local beer is more expensive than 94% of cities in North America

Rice is more expensive than 92% of cities in North America

Good to know
🕒 Local time
09:55 9:55 AM
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,606
💱 Currency
📈 Exchange rate
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

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Clifton, NJ Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

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Mbps
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Latency
ms

Fixed Broadband

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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Cost of Living in Clifton, NJ - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clifton, NJ a good-value base for travelers, expats, and digital nomads, and how does it compare overall?
Clifton offers a practical balance for travelers, expats, and digital nomads who want access to New York City’s opportunities without NYC prices. You’ll find a mix of housing styles – older apartments, family homes, and duplexes – often more space for the money than in the city. Local groceries, casual dining, and services are convenient, and road and rail links make trips to nearby hubs straightforward. The main trade-off is that costs rise with proximity to transit lines and popular neighborhoods, so expect occasional spikes during peak commute periods. Cost of Living in Clifton, NJ, United States tends to feel manageable for longer stays and a steady routine. Tip: Start with a short rental to test neighborhoods before committing.
What does daily life look like in Clifton in terms of housing search, food options, transport, and coworking?
Daily life in Clifton works well for sprightly work routines and practical errands. For housing, look for walkable blocks near town centers or rail stops, and compare older apartments with newer builds to balance space and energy costs. Food options range from neighborhood bodegas to diverse ethnic markets and family-owned trattorias, with seasonal produce online or at farmers markets when available. Transport is flexible: you can drive, ride-shares, or use NJ Transit connections to Jersey City or NYC; many remote workers value nearby coworking spaces and coffee shops with reliable Wi‑Fi. Clifton, NJ, United States living cost is a helpful frame to compare neighborhoods and transit access as you plan. Tip: map out a two-week search itinerary to sample areas.
What’s a practical budgeting and neighborhood-fit approach to quality of life in Clifton?
Quality of life in Clifton hinges on neighborhood fit and a practical budgeting approach. Start with a mental housing envelope that aligns with commute preference, safety, and access to groceries. In-season costs might shift as you heat or cool spaces, snag seasonal produce, or join local fitness or recreation programs. Walkable or transit-friendly areas tend to save on transport and time, especially if you’ll work part of the week from home. For daily life, join community groups to get a sense of safety and vibe, or test nearby cafes and markets at different hours. Tip: build a simple monthly plan that covers housing, groceries, transit, and occasional outings, and adjust as you settle.
Is Clifton, NJ really that expensive?
Clifton, NJ is expensive by global standards – monthly costs hit about $2,793. Housing is the main driver: central rents are steep, and even outer neighborhoods cost more than the global average. Strong demand, high local incomes, and limited supply all push prices up.
Why is Clifton, NJ so expensive compared to other cities?
There's no getting around it – Clifton, NJ is expensive. Monthly costs with rent typically hit $2,793, and housing is the biggest culprit. Groceries, dining, and services also run above global averages, pushed up by strong local demand and high incomes.
What income do you need to cover all expenses in Clifton, NJ?
You'll want at least $4,189 per month after taxes to live comfortably in Clifton, NJ. That covers a decent apartment, groceries, utilities, transport, and enough left over for dining out occasionally. Families or people wanting a central location should budget higher.
How much does a one-bedroom apartment cost to rent in Clifton, NJ?
A central one-bedroom apartment in Clifton, NJ runs about $1,335 per month. Move further out and that drops to around $1,400. Location makes a big difference here – and furnished places or short-term rentals will cost more on top of these figures.
Why are groceries so expensive in Clifton, NJ?
Groceries in Clifton, NJ aren't cheap – expect to spend around $458 per month. Even basic staples are priced above global averages, and organic or imported products push the bill higher. Cooking at home still saves money versus eating out, but food is a noticeable expense here.
What should I budget for food in Clifton, NJ?
Groceries are expensive in Clifton, NJ – about $458 per month for one person. Imported goods and organic products are widely available but pricey. Local markets and discount stores help, but food is a noticeable budget item.
Is $3,000 enough to cover living costs in Clifton, NJ?
$3,000 in Clifton, NJ is a stretch – monthly costs with rent hit $2,793, and housing alone takes a big chunk. Even with a shared flat and minimal going out, there's very little buffer for surprises or savings.
What are the pros and cons of living in Clifton, NJ?
Quality of life in Clifton, NJ is genuinely good – highlights include fast internet, vibrant nightlife, family-friendly facilities, and monthly costs hover around $2,793. Day-to-day life is well-rounded: decent infrastructure, varied dining and entertainment, and a generally positive atmosphere.

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