Highland Park, NJ vs South River, NJ: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

South River, NJ has a modeled overall cost index 0.1% higher than Highland Park, NJ.

Highland Park, NJ · modeled 2BR rent: $2,480 / month
South River, NJ · modeled 2BR rent: $2,230 / 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 Highland Park, NJ and South River, 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 Highland Park, NJ

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $9.31/month in South River, NJ

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,112 in South River, NJ

Regional cost estimates: Highland Park, NJ uses Newark, NJ. South River, NJ uses Newark, NJ. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 0.1%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$9.31

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$112

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.

Highland Park, NJ

Population:15K

Cost Index:

100.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$571K

South River, NJ

Population:16K

Cost Index:

101.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$520K

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Highland Park, NJ

The Garden State

15K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in New Jersey, this city has a population of 15K residents.

South River, NJ

The Garden State

16K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in New Jersey, this city has a population of 16K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Highland Park, NJ vs South River, 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	Highland Park, NJ	South River, NJ	Difference	Change
Housing	$1,879/mo	$1,881/mo	↑ $2.75more	0.1%
Other	$1,870/mo	$1,873/mo	↑ $2.74more	0.1%
Transportation	$1,476/mo	$1,478/mo	↑ $2.16more	0.1%
Groceries	$1,050/mo	$1,051/mo	↑ $0.77more	0.1%
Healthcare	$657/mo	$657/mo	↑ $0.48more	0.1%
All Utilities	$569/mo	$569/mo	↑ $0.42more	0.1%

Housing

↑ 0.1%

Highland Park, NJ

$1,879

South River, NJ

$1,881

Difference

$2.75

Other

↑ 0.1%

Highland Park, NJ

$1,870

South River, NJ

$1,873

Difference

$2.74

Transportation

↑ 0.1%

Highland Park, NJ

$1,476

South River, NJ

$1,478

Difference

$2.16

Groceries

↑ 0.1%

Highland Park, NJ

$1,050

South River, NJ

$1,051

Difference

$0.77

Healthcare

↑ 0.1%

Highland Park, NJ

$657

South River, NJ

$657

Difference

$0.48

All Utilities

↑ 0.1%

Highland Park, NJ

$569

South River, NJ

$569

Difference

$0.42

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,800

To$1,620

↓ $180

1 Bed

From$1,970

To$1,770

↓ $200

2 Bed

From$2,480

To$2,230

↓ $250

3 Bed

From$2,970

To$2,670

↓ $300

Highland Park, NJZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,970–$1,970/mo

South River, NJZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,770–$1,770/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 Highland Park, NJ

$7,509

Monthly in South River, NJ

$9.31

Difference

Home Values

Highland Park

South River

$571K

Median Value

$520K

↑ +5.2%

YoY Change

↑ +2.1%

↑ +40.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +43.3%

Homes in South River are 9% less expensive than Highland Park

Calculate payment - Highland Park Calculate payment - South River

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

Highland Park, 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

South River, 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

Highland Park, NJ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.6%

Property Tax:2.5%

South River, 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

Highland Park

South River

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 Highland Park, NJ to South River, NJ

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in South River, NJ for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Highland Park, 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 Highland Park to South River moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Highland Park, NJ vs South River, NJ

How do the cost estimates for Highland Park, NJ and South River, NJ compare?

South River, NJ has a modeled overall cost index 0.1% higher than Highland Park, 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 Highland Park, NJ, the model estimates $150,112 in South River, 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 Highland Park, NJ and South River, NJ?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,480/month in Highland Park, NJ and $2,230/month in South River, 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.