😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,010 in Hackensack, NJ versus $2,372 in Surrey.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,734 in Hackensack, NJ versus $3,591 in Surrey.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,457 in Hackensack, NJ versus $4,810 in Surrey.
🌍Living in Hackensack, NJ is roughly 27% more expensive than in Surrey, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hackensack, NJ119% above, Surrey73% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hackensack, NJ
Surrey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.19$25.19
$17.95CA$24.84
40.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.8$99.8
$58.5CA$80.9
70.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.09$13.09
$10.81CA$14.96
21.09%
Cappuccino
$5.50$5.50
$3.57CA$4.94
54.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30$2.30
$2.16CA$2.99
6.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55$1.55
$1.69CA$2.35
-8.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.91$7.91
$5.78CA$7.99
36.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.86$7.86
$6.20CA$8.58
26.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hackensack, NJ
Surrey
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27$1.27
$2.60CA$3.60
-51.15%
White Bread(500g)
$3.71$3.71
$2.14CA$2.96
73.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$6.15$6.15
$3.74CA$5.17
64.44%
Eggs
$5.62$5.62
$3.35CA$4.64
67.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.23$12.23
$9.90CA$13.69
23.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.76$7.76
$10.68CA$14.78
-27.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.09$17.09
$20.23CA$27.99
-15.52%
Apples(1kg)
$5.38$5.38
$3.28CA$4.54
64.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71$1.71
$1.36CA$1.88
25.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.19$4.19
$3.02CA$4.19
38.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.91$4.91
$3.05CA$4.22
60.98%
Potato(1kg)
$3.10$3.10
$2.71CA$3.75
14.39%
Onion(1kg)
$3.61$3.61
$2.09CA$2.89
72.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.77$2.77
$2.02CA$2.79
37.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.81$2.81
$1.79CA$2.48
56.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.46$11.46
$14.29CA$19.77
-19.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.11$15.11
$14.31CA$19.80
5.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68$1.68
$2.57CA$3.55
-34.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61$3.61
$3.14CA$4.34
14.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Hackensack, NJ
Surrey
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.44$3.44
$2.59CA$3.59
32.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.1$59.1
$109CA$151
-45.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.97$2.97
$2.74CA$3.79
8.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.10$2.10
$1.58CA$2.19
32.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.62$23.62
$28.49CA$39.42
-17.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07$1.07
$1.29CA$1.79
-17.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K$35.1K
$28.7KCA$39.7K
22.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K$24.9K
$19.3KCA$26.7K
28.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hackensack, NJ
Surrey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$208$208
$190CA$263
9.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.1$54.1
$37.48CA$51.9
44.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.6$50.6
$65.7CA$90.9
-22.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hackensack, NJ
Surrey
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.68$44.68
$35.61CA$49.27
25.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$25.88CA$35.81
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.11$20.11
$12.86CA$17.79
56.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hackensack, NJ
Surrey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,396$1,396
$865CA$1,197
61.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K$16.0K
$12.1KCA$16.7K
32.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hackensack, NJ
Surrey
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.88$42.88
$56.4CA$78.0
-23.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.9$57.9
$62.4CA$86.3
-7.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.1$88.1
$99.7CA$138
-11.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104$104
$89.0CA$123
17.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hackensack, NJ
Surrey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,802$1,802
$1,367CA$1,892
31.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,642$1,642
$1,096CA$1,516
49.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,414$3,414
$2,805CA$3,881
21.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,313$3,313
$2,166CA$2,997
52.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,606$3,606
$9,783CA$13.5K
-63.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,239$3,239
$8,727CA$12.1K
-62.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hackensack, NJ
Surrey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,255$6,255
$3,093CA$4,279
102.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.3
4.87
29.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hackensack, NJ: August 30, 2026
Last update for Surrey: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,802 in Hackensack, NJ and $1,367 in Surrey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hackensack, NJ pays 102% 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: $100 in Hackensack, NJ vs $58.0 in Surrey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $409 vs $361 per month, with Surrey 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 Surrey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hackensack, NJ or Surrey?
Surrey wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Hackensack, NJ. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Surrey the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Hackensack, NJ or in Surrey?
Average pay runs 102% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Hackensack, NJ compared to Surrey?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,802 in Hackensack, NJ versus $1,367 in Surrey. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Hackensack, NJ and in Surrey?
Childcare runs $1,396 in Hackensack, NJ versus $865 in Surrey. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Hackensack, NJ or in Surrey?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Hackensack, NJ. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Hackensack, NJ or in Surrey?
At $2,372 in Surrey versus $3,010 in Hackensack, NJ, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Surrey but tight or insufficient in Hackensack, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Surrey the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hackensack, NJ or Surrey?
Both work as nomad bases, but Surrey delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,372 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Surrey hard to pass up.
How safe is Hackensack, NJ compared to Surrey?
Safety-wise, Hackensack, NJ and Surrey are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Surrey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Hackensack, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Hackensack, NJ vs other spots: cost of living compared