Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Fairfield, CA and Newark, NJ

For one person, living is cheaper in Newark, NJ: $2,865 a month against $3,978 in Fairfield, CA, rent and utilities included – about $13,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

190

Cost of Living Index in Fairfield, CA
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Fairfield, CA Living Index
137

Cost of Living Index in Newark, NJ
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Newark, NJ Living Index

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Fairfield, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,978

/mo nomad

Newark, NJ

🇺🇸 United States

$2,865

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Fairfield, CA and in Newark, NJ

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,978 in Fairfield, CA versus $2,865 in Newark, NJ.

Fairfield, CA $3,978
Newark, NJ $2,865

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,242 in Fairfield, CA versus $4,206 in Newark, NJ.

Fairfield, CA $5,242
Newark, NJ $4,206

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,507 in Fairfield, CA versus $5,546 in Newark, NJ.

Fairfield, CA $6,507
Newark, NJ $5,546

Living in Fairfield, CA is roughly 39% more expensive than in Newark, NJ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fairfield, CA 194% above, Newark, NJ 112% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.62 $21.62

$20.32 $20.32

6.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.7 $88.7

$102 $102

-12.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.01 $12.01

$14.46 $14.46

-16.94%

Cappuccino

$6.94 $6.94

$6.68 $6.68

3.89%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.86 $3.86

-9.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.46 $2.46

-17.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.98 $7.98

$7.87 $7.87

1.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.16 $7.16

$9.91 $9.91

-27.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.37 $1.37

2.92%

White Bread (500g)

$4.42 $4.42

$4.60 $4.60

-3.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$7.73 $7.73

-39.46%

Eggs

$5.54 $5.54

$6.00 $6.00

-7.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.08 $14.08

$7.04 $7.04

100.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$18.01 $18.01

-15.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.77 $17.77

$20.84 $20.84

-14.73%

Apples (1kg)

$6.11 $6.11

$7.08 $7.08

-13.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.29 $2.29

13.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.35 $6.35

$6.79 $6.79

-6.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.60 $6.60

$6.74 $6.74

-2.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$4.61 $4.61

-15.62%

Onion (1kg)

$3.54 $3.54

$4.86 $4.86

-27.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.33 $2.33

$3.00 $3.00

-22.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.73 $2.73

-24.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.87 $11.87

$11.46 $11.46

3.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.18 $10.18

$19.68 $19.68

-48.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.92 $1.92

9.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.79 $2.79

-24.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.91 $1.91

2.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.1 $87.1

$72.0 $72.0

20.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.08 $3.08

-4.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.21 $2.21

-11.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.14 $29.14

$38.70 $38.70

-24.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.08 $1.08

32.41%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.2K $28.2K

$27.9K $27.9K

0.94%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.7K $25.7K

1.46%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$193 $193

$217 $217

-11.22%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$48.25 $48.25

$71.6 $71.6

-32.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.9 $72.9

$70.2 $70.2

3.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$15.28 $15.28

720.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$73.7 $73.7

$17.46 $17.46

322.16%

Cinema Ticket

$14.61 $14.61

$14.59 $14.59

0.14%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,293 $1,293

$2,155 $2,155

-39.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.3K $22.3K

$33.9K $33.9K

-34.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.1 $51.1

$59.3 $59.3

-13.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.08 $37.08

$27.50 $27.50

34.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 $107

$120 $120

-10.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$137 $137

-18.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,396 $2,396

$2,489 $2,489

-3.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,432 $2,432

$1,321 $1,321

84.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,100 $3,100

$3,273 $3,273

-5.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,967 $2,967

$2,028 $2,028

46.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,719 $3,719

$4,190 $4,190

-11.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,665 $3,665

$3,612 $3,612

1.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,749 $4,749

$3,912 $3,912

21.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

6.68

-2.99%

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

Last update for Fairfield, CA: November 1, 2026

Last update for Newark, NJ: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Fairfield, CA

$2.4K 61.1%

Newark, NJ

$1.3K 46.1% 45.7% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

Fairfield, CA

$463 11.7%

Newark, NJ

$521 18.2% 12.5% $58

Eating Out

Fairfield, CA

$369 9.3%

Newark, NJ

$371 12.9% 0.5% $2

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Fairfield, CA

$314 7.9%

Newark, NJ

$359 12.5% 14.3% $45

Sport & Entertainment

Fairfield, CA

$155 3.9%

Newark, NJ

$44 1.6% 71.2% $110

Clothing & Footwear

Fairfield, CA

$138 3.5%

Newark, NJ

$155 5.4% 12% $17

Getting Around

Fairfield, CA

$108 2.7%

Newark, NJ

$94 3.3% 12.8% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,396 in Fairfield, CA and $2,489 in Newark, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fairfield, CA pays 21% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $89 in Fairfield, CA vs $102 in Newark, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $463 vs $521 per month, with Fairfield, CA cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Fairfield, CA

🇺🇸 Newark, NJ

🕒 Local time

18:42 6:42 PM

21:42 9:42 PM

3 h ahead of Fairfield, CA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

117,133

311,549

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.888 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Fairfield, CA Newark, NJ 4,070 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Fairfield, CA
Newark, NJ

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Fairfield, CA vs Newark, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Newark, NJ wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Fairfield, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Newark, NJ the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 21% higher in Fairfield, CA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,396 in Fairfield, CA versus $2,489 in Newark, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you’ll spend $3,978 per month in Fairfield, CA versus $2,865 in Newark, NJ – Newark, NJ is about 28% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

A monthly transit pass in Newark, NJ runs roughly 17% less than in Fairfield, CA. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Newark, NJ is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

It comes down to priorities – Newark, NJ wins on affordability, Fairfield, CA on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.