Elizabeth, NJ vs Paterson, NJ: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Paterson, NJ has a modeled overall cost index 1.8% higher than Elizabeth, NJ.

Elizabeth, NJ · modeled 2BR rent: $2,015 / month
Paterson, NJ · modeled 2BR rent: $1,980 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓

Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Elizabeth, NJ and Paterson, NJ using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Elizabeth, NJ

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $331/month in Paterson, NJ

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $153,975 in Paterson, NJ

Regional cost estimates: Elizabeth, NJ uses Newark, NJ. Paterson, NJ uses Newark, NJ. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 1.8%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$331

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$4.0K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Elizabeth, NJ

Population:136K

Cost Index:

106.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$501K

Paterson, NJ

Population:156K

Cost Index:

108.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$532K

Planning the move to Paterson?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Elizabeth, NJ

The Garden State

136K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in New Jersey, this city has a population of 136K residents.

Paterson, NJ

The Garden State

156K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in New Jersey, this city has a population of 156K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Elizabeth, NJ vs Paterson, NJ

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Elizabeth, NJ	Paterson, NJ	Difference	Change
Housing	$1,893/mo	$2,142/mo	↑ $249more	13.2%
Other	$1,884/mo	$1,919/mo	↑ $34.59more	1.8%
Transportation	$1,487/mo	$1,514/mo	↑ $27.29more	1.8%
Groceries	$1,032/mo	$1,041/mo	↑ $9.43more	0.9%
Healthcare	$646/mo	$651/mo	↑ $5.90more	0.9%
All Utilities	$559/mo	$564/mo	↑ $5.11more	0.9%

Housing

↑ 13.2%

Elizabeth, NJ

$1,893

Paterson, NJ

$2,142

Difference

$249

Other

↑ 1.8%

Elizabeth, NJ

$1,884

Paterson, NJ

$1,919

Difference

$34.59

Transportation

↑ 1.8%

Elizabeth, NJ

$1,487

Paterson, NJ

$1,514

Difference

$27.29

Groceries

↑ 0.9%

Elizabeth, NJ

$1,032

Paterson, NJ

$1,041

Difference

$9.43

Healthcare

↑ 0.9%

Elizabeth, NJ

$646

Paterson, NJ

$651

Difference

$5.90

All Utilities

↑ 0.9%

Elizabeth, NJ

$559

Paterson, NJ

$564

Difference

$5.11

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,475

To$1,510

↑ $35.00

1 Bed

From$1,665

To$1,720

↑ $55.00

2 Bed

From$2,015

To$1,980

↓ $35.00

3 Bed

From$2,525

To$2,420

↓ $105

Elizabeth, NJZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,600–$1,700/mo

Paterson, NJZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,410–$1,860/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Elizabeth, NJ

$7,831

Monthly in Paterson, NJ

$331

Difference

Home Values

Elizabeth

Paterson

$501K

Median Value

$532K

↑ +4.3%

YoY Change

↑ +3.7%

↑ +55.6%

5-Year Change

↑ +44.5%

$495K - $565K

Price Range

$469K - $567K

Homes in Paterson are 6% more expensive than Elizabeth

Calculate payment - Elizabeth Calculate payment - Paterson

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Elizabeth, NJ

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

New Jersey State Tax

Effective: 5.0%

$7.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.6%

$44.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,796/month

$105.6K

Paterson, NJ

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

New Jersey State Tax

Effective: 5.0%

$7.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.6%

$44.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,796/month

$105.6K

Additional Tax Information

Elizabeth, NJ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.6%

Property Tax:2.5%

Paterson, NJ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.6%

Property Tax:2.5%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Elizabeth

Paterson

98 High

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

15 days

Heat Days >95°F

15 days

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

15 days

Heat Days >95°F

15 days

Before moving from Elizabeth, NJ to Paterson, NJ

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Paterson, NJ for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Elizabeth, NJ. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Elizabeth to Paterson moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Paterson, NJ by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Elizabeth, NJ vs Paterson, NJ

How do the cost estimates for Elizabeth, NJ and Paterson, NJ compare?

Paterson, NJ has a modeled overall cost index 1.8% higher than Elizabeth, NJ. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Elizabeth, NJ, the model estimates $153,975 in Paterson, NJ. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Elizabeth, NJ and Paterson, NJ?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,015/month in Elizabeth, NJ and $1,980/month in Paterson, NJ. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.