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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,010 in Fairfield, CA versus $3,177 in Newark, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,652 in Fairfield, CA versus $4,636 in Newark, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,294 in Fairfield, CA versus $6,095 in Newark, NJ.

Living in Fairfield, CA is roughly 26% more expensive than Newark, NJ, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fairfield, CA 198% above, Newark, NJ 136% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.99 $21.99

$20.19 $20.19

8.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.4 $81.4

$89.5 $89.5

-9.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.85 $11.85

$12.23 $12.23

-3.11%

Cappuccino

$4.83 $4.83

$4.85 $4.85

-0.41%

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

$2.85 $2.85

$2.60 $2.60

9.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.98 $1.98

-0.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.38 $7.38

$5.90 $5.90

25.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.03 $7.03

$6.92 $6.92

1.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.37 $1.37

-14.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.93 $3.93

$4.48 $4.48

-12.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$8.27 $8.27

-45.71%

Eggs

$5.23 $5.23

$5.61 $5.61

-6.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.40 $13.40

$15.01 $15.01

-10.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.12 $11.12

$16.60 $16.60

-33.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.80 $17.80

$20.72 $20.72

-14.09%

Apples (1kg)

$7.87 $7.87

$7.36 $7.36

6.93%

Banana (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.44 $2.44

16.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.91 $5.91

$5.93 $5.93

-0.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.92 $7.92

$6.21 $6.21

27.54%

Potato (1kg)

$4.00 $4.00

$3.76 $3.76

6.38%

Onion (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$4.08 $4.08

-4.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.94 $2.94

-25.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.59 $2.59

-21.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.18 $12.18

$13.01 $13.01

-6.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.07 $10.07

$20.29 $20.29

-50.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.02 $2.02

-10.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.71 $3.71

-28.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$5.90 $5.90

-65.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 $87.8

$54.2 $54.2

62.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.94 $2.94

1.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.35 $1.35

36.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.76 $28.76

$22.25 $22.25

29.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.94 $0.94

42.55%

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

$33.6K $33.6K

$29.8K $29.8K

12.76%

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

$27.0K $27.0K

$26.8K $26.8K

0.86%

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

$226 $226

$267 $267

-15.14%

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

$50.4 $50.4

$63.3 $63.3

-20.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.9 $74.9

$75.9 $75.9

-1.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$124 $124

$29.43 $29.43

322.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$74.1 $74.1

$17.27 $17.27

329.01%

Cinema Ticket

$14.04 $14.04

$15.16 $15.16

-7.39%

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

$1,853 $1,853

$2,061 $2,061

-10.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.1K $20.1K

$43.6K $43.6K

-53.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 $58.1

$53.3 $53.3

8.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.38 $42.38

$42.18 $42.18

0.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.7 $83.7

$108 $108

-22.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$172 $172

-35.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,470 $2,470

$2,286 $2,286

8.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,450 $2,450

$1,526 $1,526

60.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,265 $3,265

$3,238 $3,238

0.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,673 $3,673

$2,578 $2,578

42.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,652 $3,652

$5,563 $5,563

-34.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,639 $3,639

$5,673 $5,673

-35.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,727 $4,727

$3,501 $3,501

34.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.52

6.63

-1.66%

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

Last update for Fairfield, CA: June 7, 2026

Last update for Newark, NJ: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,470 in Fairfield, CA and $2,286 in Newark, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fairfield, CA pays 35% 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: $81.0 in Fairfield, CA vs $89.0 in Newark, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $446 vs $531 per month, with Fairfield, CA cheaper across the board.

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 26% 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.

Fairfield, CA pays 35% more on average, 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: $2,470 in Fairfield, CA versus $2,286 in Newark, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,010 per month in Fairfield, CA versus $3,177 in Newark, NJ – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Newark, NJ runs roughly 62% less than in Fairfield, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching 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.

Expats usually find Newark, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Fairfield, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.