Fair Haven, NJ vs Mountain Lakes, NJ: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Mountain Lakes, NJ has a modeled overall cost index 31.3% lower than Fair Haven, NJ.

Fair Haven, NJ · modeled 2BR rent: $2,690 / month
Mountain Lakes, NJ · modeled 2BR rent: $2,490 / 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

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Fair Haven, NJ and Mountain Lakes, 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 Fair Haven, NJ

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $2,538/month in Mountain Lakes, NJ

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $119,543 in Mountain Lakes, NJ

Regional cost estimates: Fair Haven, NJ uses New York, NY. Mountain Lakes, NJ uses Newark, NJ. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 31.3%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$2,538

Savings

Annual Impact

$30.5K

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.

Fair Haven, NJ

Population:6K

Cost Index:

142.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.43M

Mountain Lakes, NJ

Population:5K

Cost Index:

98.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.16M

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Fair Haven, NJ

The Garden State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in New Jersey, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Mountain Lakes, NJ

The Garden State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in New Jersey, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Fair Haven, NJ vs Mountain Lakes, 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	Fair Haven, NJ	Mountain Lakes, NJ	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,917/mo	$1,238/mo	↓ $2,679less	68.4%
Other	$1,157/mo	$1,232/mo	↑ $74.56more	6.4%
Transportation	$912/mo	$972/mo	↑ $60.26more	6.6%
Groceries	$719/mo	$701/mo	↓ $17.75less	2.5%
Healthcare	$424/mo	$439/mo	↑ $14.36more	3.4%
All Utilities	$370/mo	$380/mo	↑ $9.74more	2.6%

Housing

↓ 68.4%

Fair Haven, NJ

$3,917

Mountain Lakes, NJ

$1,238

Difference

$2,679

less

Other

↑ 6.4%

Fair Haven, NJ

$1,157

Mountain Lakes, NJ

$1,232

Difference

$74.56

Transportation

↑ 6.6%

Fair Haven, NJ

$912

Mountain Lakes, NJ

$972

Difference

$60.26

Groceries

↓ 2.5%

Fair Haven, NJ

$719

Mountain Lakes, NJ

$701

Difference

$17.75

less

Healthcare

↑ 3.4%

Fair Haven, NJ

$424

Mountain Lakes, NJ

$439

Difference

$14.36

All Utilities

↑ 2.6%

Fair Haven, NJ

$370

Mountain Lakes, NJ

$380

Difference

$9.74

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,940

To$1,820

↓ $120

1 Bed

From$2,190

To$2,060

↓ $130

2 Bed

From$2,690

To$2,490

↓ $200

3 Bed

From$3,520

To$3,110

↓ $410

Fair Haven, NJZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,190–$2,190/mo

Mountain Lakes, NJZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,060–$2,060/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 Fair Haven, NJ

$4,962

Monthly in Mountain Lakes, NJ

$2,538

Difference

Home Values

Fair Haven

Mountain Lakes

$1.43M

Median Value

$1.16M

↑ +3.5%

YoY Change

↑ +6.3%

↑ +58.4%

5-Year Change

↑ +41.6%

Homes in Mountain Lakes are 19% less expensive than Fair Haven

Calculate payment - Fair Haven Calculate payment - Mountain Lakes

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

Fair Haven, 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

Mountain Lakes, 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

Fair Haven, NJ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.6%

Property Tax:2.5%

Mountain Lakes, 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

Fair Haven

Mountain Lakes

43 Good

Air Quality

N/A

65.8%

Good Air Days

99 High

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌀🌡

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

11 days

Heat Days >95°F

15 days

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

11 days

Heat Days >95°F

15 days

Before moving from Fair Haven, NJ to Mountain Lakes, NJ

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Mountain Lakes, NJ for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Fair Haven, 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 Fair Haven to Mountain Lakes moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Fair Haven, NJ vs Mountain Lakes, NJ

How do the cost estimates for Fair Haven, NJ and Mountain Lakes, NJ compare?

Mountain Lakes, NJ has a modeled overall cost index 31.3% lower than Fair Haven, 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 Fair Haven, NJ, the model estimates $119,543 in Mountain Lakes, 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 Fair Haven, NJ and Mountain Lakes, NJ?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,690/month in Fair Haven, NJ and $2,490/month in Mountain Lakes, 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.