Hackensack, NJ vs Chelsea, MA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Chelsea, MA has a modeled overall cost index 16.4% higher than Hackensack, NJ.

Hackensack, NJ · modeled 2BR rent: $2,500 / month
Chelsea, MA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,630 / 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 Hackensack, NJ and Chelsea, MA 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 Hackensack, NJ

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,092/month in Chelsea, MA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $163,098 in Chelsea, MA

Regional cost estimates: Hackensack, NJ uses Jersey City, NJ. Chelsea, MA uses Boston, MA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 16.4%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,092

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$13.1K

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.

Hackensack, NJ

Population:46K

Cost Index:

120.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$461K

Chelsea, MA

Population:38K

Cost Index:

139.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$516K

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Hackensack, NJ

The Garden State

46K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in New Jersey, this city has a population of 46K residents.

Chelsea, MA

The Bay State

38K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Massachusetts, this city has a population of 38K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Hackensack, NJ vs Chelsea, MA

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	Hackensack, NJ	Chelsea, MA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,668/mo	$3,700/mo	↑ $1,031more	38.7%
Other	$1,616/mo	$1,422/mo	↓ $194less	12.0%
Transportation	$1,275/mo	$1,426/mo	↑ $151more	11.9%
All Utilities	$485/mo	$576/mo	↑ $91.08more	18.8%
Healthcare	$560/mo	$598/mo	↑ $38.33more	6.8%
Groceries	$895/mo	$869/mo	↓ $26.56less	3.0%

Housing

↑ 38.7%

Hackensack, NJ

$2,668

Chelsea, MA

$3,700

Difference

$1,031

Other

↓ 12.0%

Hackensack, NJ

$1,616

Chelsea, MA

$1,422

Difference

$194

less

Transportation

↑ 11.9%

Hackensack, NJ

$1,275

Chelsea, MA

$1,426

Difference

$151

All Utilities

↑ 18.8%

Hackensack, NJ

$485

Chelsea, MA

$576

Difference

$91.08

Healthcare

↑ 6.8%

Hackensack, NJ

$560

Chelsea, MA

$598

Difference

$38.33

Groceries

↓ 3.0%

Hackensack, NJ

$895

Chelsea, MA

$869

Difference

$26.56

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,910

To$2,110

↑ $200

1 Bed

From$2,180

To$2,210

↑ $30.00

2 Bed

From$2,500

To$2,630

↑ $130

3 Bed

From$3,050

To$3,150

↑ $100

Hackensack, NJZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,180–$2,180/mo

Chelsea, MAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,210–$2,210/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 Hackensack, NJ

$8,592

Monthly in Chelsea, MA

$1,092

Difference

Home Values

Hackensack

Chelsea

$461K

Median Value

$516K

↑ +1.8%

YoY Change

↓ -0.3%

↑ +30.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +18%

Homes in Chelsea are 12% more expensive than Hackensack

Calculate payment - Hackensack Calculate payment - Chelsea

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $69.50

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$5.79

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Hackensack, 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

Chelsea, MA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Massachusetts State Tax

Effective: 5.0%

$7.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.7%

$44.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,791/month

$105.5K

Additional Tax Information

Hackensack, NJ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.6%

Property Tax:2.5%

Chelsea, MA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.3%

Property Tax:1.2%

💡 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

Hackensack

Chelsea

41 Good

Air Quality

36 Good

71.3%

Good Air Days

79.5%

97 High

Climate Risk

94 Moderate

🌊🌅🌡

Top Hazards

🌊🌅🌀

▲+2.8°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

12 days

Heat Days >95°F

6 days

▲+2.8°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

12 days

Heat Days >95°F

6 days

Before moving from Hackensack, NJ to Chelsea, MA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Chelsea, MA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Hackensack, 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 Hackensack to Chelsea moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Hackensack, NJ vs Chelsea, MA

How do the cost estimates for Hackensack, NJ and Chelsea, MA compare?

Chelsea, MA has a modeled overall cost index 16.4% higher than Hackensack, 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 Hackensack, NJ, the model estimates $163,098 in Chelsea, MA. 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 Hackensack, NJ and Chelsea, MA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,500/month in Hackensack, NJ and $2,630/month in Chelsea, MA. 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.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between New Jersey and Massachusetts on TaxTakeHome.com