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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,078 in Newark, NJ versus $3,942 in Fairfield, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,591 in Newark, NJ versus $5,556 in Fairfield, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,105 in Newark, NJ versus $7,170 in Fairfield, CA.

Living in Newark, NJ costs roughly 22% less than in Fairfield, CA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Newark, NJ 130% above, Fairfield, CA 194% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.15 $20.15

$22.05 $22.05

-8.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.8 $90.8

$80.8 $80.8

12.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.10 $12.10

$11.90 $11.90

1.68%

Cappuccino

$4.94 $4.94

$4.75 $4.75

4.00%

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

$2.71 $2.71

$2.84 $2.84

-4.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.05 $2.05

-2.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.83 $5.83

$7.60 $7.60

-23.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.88 $6.88

$6.98 $6.98

-1.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.17 $1.17

19.66%

White Bread (500g)

$4.48 $4.48

$3.94 $3.94

13.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.15 $8.15

$4.43 $4.43

83.97%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$5.35 $5.35

8.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.07 $15.07

$13.49 $13.49

11.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.69 $16.69

$11.34 $11.34

47.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.03 $21.03

$17.97 $17.97

17.03%

Apples (1kg)

$7.46 $7.46

$8.05 $8.05

-7.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.85 $2.85

-12.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$5.81 $5.81

1.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.26 $6.26

$7.75 $7.75

-19.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$3.88 $3.88

-0.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$3.82 $3.82

2.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.13 $2.13

40.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.95 $1.95

30.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.98 $12.98

$11.78 $11.78

10.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.74 $19.74

$10.01 $10.01

97.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.79 $1.79

9.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.62 $2.62

45.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$6.16 $6.16

$1.98 $1.98

211.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 $55.3

$87.6 $87.6

-36.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.97 $2.97

2.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.89 $1.89

-28.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.57 $21.57

$28.86 $28.86

-25.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.28 $1.28

-32.81%

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

$30.1K $30.1K

$34.7K $34.7K

-13.24%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

-0.32%

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

$275 $275

$229 $229

20.08%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$50.1 $50.1

25.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.7 $75.7

$73.3 $73.3

3.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.39 $30.39

$124 $124

-75.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 $17.26

$75.3 $75.3

-77.08%

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$14.28 $14.28

6.79%

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

$2,109 $2,109

$1,892 $1,892

11.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.5K $42.5K

$20.2K $20.2K

110.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.0 $52.0

$57.8 $57.8

-10.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.21 $41.21

$43.08 $43.08

-4.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 $110

$86.1 $86.1

27.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$168 $168

$111 $111

51.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$2,499 $2,499

-6.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,570 $1,570

$2,464 $2,464

-36.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,259 $3,259

$3,244 $3,244

0.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,564 $2,564

$3,743 $3,743

-31.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,595 $5,595

$3,697 $3,697

51.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,558 $5,558

$3,647 $3,647

52.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,603 $3,603

$4,903 $4,903

-26.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.63

6.52

1.69%

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

Last update for Newark, NJ: April 25, 2026

Last update for Fairfield, CA: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,326 in Newark, NJ and $2,499 in Fairfield, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fairfield, CA pays 36% 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: $91.0 in Newark, NJ vs $81.0 in Fairfield, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $532 vs $446 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

Newark, NJ vs Fairfield, CA: 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.

On paper, Fairfield, CA earns 36% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,326 in Newark, NJ versus $2,499 in Fairfield, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,078 per month in Newark, NJ versus $3,942 in Fairfield, CA – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Newark, NJ runs roughly 58% 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 28% less than in Fairfield, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.