Cost of Living Comparison Between Hackensack, NJ and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Hackensack, NJ and New York, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,419 in Hackensack, NJ versus $4,841 in New York, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,210 in Hackensack, NJ versus $7,287 in New York, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,002 in Hackensack, NJ versus $9,734 in New York, NY.

Living in Hackensack, NJ costs roughly 29% less than in New York, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hackensack, NJ 150% above, New York, NY 254% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.66 $24.66

$25.33 $25.33

-2.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$142 $142

-28.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$13.78 $13.78

-4.50%

Cappuccino

$5.34 $5.34

$6.19 $6.19

-13.73%

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

$2.38 $2.38

$3.69 $3.69

-35.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$2.96 $2.96

-45.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.76 $7.76

3.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.84 $7.84

$10.14 $10.14

-22.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.39 $1.39

-5.04%

White Bread (500g)

$4.31 $4.31

$4.59 $4.59

-6.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.90 $5.90

$6.94 $6.94

-14.99%

Eggs

$5.87 $5.87

$5.79 $5.79

1.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.31 $12.31

$17.32 $17.32

-28.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.79 $7.79

$15.04 $15.04

-48.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.94 $16.94

$18.02 $18.02

-5.99%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$6.29 $6.29

-14.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.13 $2.13

-18.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$5.80 $5.80

-24.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.03 $5.03

$6.28 $6.28

-19.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$3.39 $3.39

-9.14%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$4.27 $4.27

-27.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.77 $2.77

3.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.56 $2.56

14.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.25 $11.25

$18.70 $18.70

-39.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.14 $15.14

$20.30 $20.30

-25.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$3.15 $3.15

-46.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$4.03 $4.03

-13.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.97 $2.97

14.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.5 $60.5

$138 $138

-56.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.09 $3.09

-3.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.14 $2.14

-6.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.81 $23.81

$41.56 $41.56

-42.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.13 $1.13

-6.19%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

$35.4K $35.4K

0.56%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$25.6K $25.6K

-3.21%

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

$211 $211

$236 $236

-10.62%

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

$56.1 $56.1

$73.7 $73.7

-23.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.64 $49.64

$72.4 $72.4

-31.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.22 $44.22

$125 $125

-64.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.1 $63.1

Cinema Ticket

$20.19 $20.19

$23.37 $23.37

-13.61%

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

$1,384 $1,384

$3,353 $3,353

-58.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K $16.0K

$61.0K $61.0K

-73.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.08 $44.08

$72.4 $72.4

-39.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.7 $56.7

$52.2 $52.2

8.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.0 $88.0

$116 $116

-24.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$124 $124

-18.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,363 $2,363

$4,438 $4,438

-46.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,932 $1,932

$3,045 $3,045

-36.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,236 $4,236

$9,088 $9,088

-53.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,717 $3,717

$5,404 $5,404

-31.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,553 $3,553

$18.8K $18.8K

-81.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,364 $3,364

$6,500 $6,500

-48.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,205 $6,205

$5,258 $5,258

18.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.28

6.49

-3.24%

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

Last update for Hackensack, NJ: September 14, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,363 in Hackensack, NJ and $4,438 in New York, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hackensack, NJ pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $101 in Hackensack, NJ vs $142 in New York, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $418 vs $516 per month, with Hackensack, NJ 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

Hackensack, NJ vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hackensack, NJ wins on cost – living expenses run 42% lower than in New York, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hackensack, NJ the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 18% higher in Hackensack, NJ, 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: $2,363 in Hackensack, NJ versus $4,438 in New York, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,384 in Hackensack, NJ versus $3,353 in New York, NY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Hackensack, NJ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Hackensack, NJ delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,419 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Hackensack, NJ hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Hackensack, NJ and New York, NY are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Hackensack, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.