🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,711 in Surrey versus $2,958 in Hackensack, NJ.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,087 in Surrey versus $4,654 in Hackensack, NJ.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,462 in Surrey versus $6,351 in Hackensack, NJ.
🙂Living in Surrey costs roughly 8% less than in Hackensack, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Surrey102% above, Hackensack, NJ121% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surrey
Hackensack, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.30CA$25.53
$19.74$19.74
-7.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.4CA$114
$101$101
-19.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.87CA$15.15
$14.25$14.25
-23.72%
Cappuccino
$4.20CA$5.85
$5.32$5.32
-21.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13CA$2.97
$2.37$2.37
-10.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74CA$2.43
$1.93$1.93
-9.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.84CA$8.14
$7.15$7.15
-18.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.81CA$9.50
$8.94$8.94
-23.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surrey
Hackensack, NJ
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.61CA$3.64
$1.27$1.27
105.51%
White Bread(500g)
$2.63CA$3.66
$3.81$3.81
-30.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.39CA$7.52
$5.27$5.27
2.28%
Eggs
$3.72CA$5.19
$4.79$4.79
-22.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.28CA$14.33
$14.09$14.09
-27.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.63CA$16.21
$10.29$10.29
13.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.42CA$34.05
$17.43$17.43
40.10%
Apples(1kg)
$3.44CA$4.80
$5.02$5.02
-31.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34CA$1.88
$1.77$1.77
-24.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.12CA$4.35
$3.93$3.93
-20.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.45CA$4.81
$4.12$4.12
-16.26%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36CA$3.28
$2.76$2.76
-14.49%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07CA$2.89
$2.64$2.64
-21.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.51CA$3.50
$2.47$2.47
1.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93CA$2.69
$2.67$2.67
-27.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.88CA$20.75
$11.83$11.83
25.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.60CA$20.36
$15.05$15.05
-2.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.00CA$5.57
$1.70$1.70
135.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01CA$5.59
$4.29$4.29
-6.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Surrey
Hackensack, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.18CA$4.44
$3.53$3.53
-9.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$127CA$176
$60.7$60.7
108.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.69CA$3.76
$3.07$3.07
-12.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50CA$2.09
$2.10$2.10
-28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.96CA$40.39
$24.46$24.46
18.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32CA$1.84
$0.91$0.91
45.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KCA$34.8K
$23.4K$23.4K
6.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0KCA$29.3K
$25.6K$25.6K
-17.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surrey
Hackensack, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192CA$268
$212$212
-9.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.16CA$58.8
$53.9$53.9
-21.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.8CA$93.1
$58.2$58.2
14.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surrey
Hackensack, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.80CA$62.5
$45.75$45.75
-2.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.19CA$25.36
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.65CA$17.64
$20.34$20.34
-37.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surrey
Hackensack, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$903CA$1,259
$1,393$1,393
-35.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.7KCA$17.7K
$16.1K$16.1K
-21.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surrey
Hackensack, NJ
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.9CA$76.6
$49.02$49.02
12.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.9CA$73.8
$63.1$63.1
-16.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104CA$145
$88.2$88.2
17.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.3CA$134
$98.6$98.6
-2.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surrey
Hackensack, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,629CA$2,272
$1,772$1,772
-8.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,400CA$1,952
$1,634$1,634
-14.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,102CA$4,325
$3,390$3,390
-8.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,490CA$3,472
$3,271$3,271
-23.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,842CA$13.7K
$3,570$3,570
175.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,780CA$12.2K
$3,240$3,240
170.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surrey
Hackensack, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,088CA$4,306
$6,265$6,265
-50.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.54
6.62
-1.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surrey: June 1, 2026
Last update for Hackensack, NJ: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,629 in Surrey and $1,772 in Hackensack, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hackensack, NJ pays 103% 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 Surrey vs $101 in Hackensack, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $408 vs $412 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
Surrey vs Hackensack, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Surrey or Hackensack, NJ?
Surrey wins on cost – living expenses run 9% 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 Surrey or Hackensack, NJ?
On paper, Hackensack, NJ earns 103% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Surrey vs Hackensack, NJ?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,629 in Surrey versus $1,772 in Hackensack, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Surrey and Hackensack, NJ?
Childcare runs $903 in Surrey versus $1,393 in Hackensack, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Surrey or Hackensack, NJ?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% 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 Surrey or Hackensack, NJ?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Surrey is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Surrey or Hackensack, NJ?
Both work as nomad bases, but Surrey delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,711 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Surrey hard to pass up.
How safe is Surrey compared to Hackensack, NJ?
Safety-wise, Surrey and Hackensack, NJ 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 9% less than in Hackensack, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.