Lavallette, NJ vs Essex Fells, NJ: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Essex Fells, NJ has a modeled overall cost index 27.4% lower than Lavallette, NJ.

Lavallette, NJ · modeled 2BR rent: $2,260 / month
Essex Fells, NJ · modeled 2BR rent: $2,850 / 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 Lavallette, NJ and Essex Fells, 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 Lavallette, NJ

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $2,281/month in Essex Fells, NJ

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $122,624 in Essex Fells, NJ

Regional cost estimates: Lavallette, NJ uses New York, NY. Essex Fells, NJ uses Newark, NJ. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 27.4%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$2,281

Savings

Annual Impact

$27.4K

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.

Lavallette, NJ

Population:2K

Cost Index:

132.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.11M

Essex Fells, NJ

Population:2K

Cost Index:

96.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.40M

Planning the move to Essex Fells?

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

Lavallette, NJ

The Garden State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in New Jersey, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Essex Fells, NJ

The Garden State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in New Jersey, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Lavallette, NJ vs Essex Fells, 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	Lavallette, NJ	Essex Fells, NJ	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,887/mo	$1,298/mo	↓ $2,589less	66.6%
Other	$1,149/mo	$1,292/mo	↑ $143more	12.5%
Transportation	$905/mo	$1,019/mo	↑ $115more	12.7%
Healthcare	$437/mo	$465/mo	↑ $27.43more	6.3%
All Utilities	$381/mo	$402/mo	↑ $20.98more	5.5%
Groceries	$741/mo	$742/mo	↑ $1.92more	0.3%

Housing

↓ 66.6%

Lavallette, NJ

$3,887

Essex Fells, NJ

$1,298

Difference

$2,589

less

Other

↑ 12.5%

Lavallette, NJ

$1,149

Essex Fells, NJ

$1,292

Difference

$143

Transportation

↑ 12.7%

Lavallette, NJ

$905

Essex Fells, NJ

$1,019

Difference

$115

Healthcare

↑ 6.3%

Lavallette, NJ

$437

Essex Fells, NJ

$465

Difference

$27.43

All Utilities

↑ 5.5%

Lavallette, NJ

$381

Essex Fells, NJ

$402

Difference

$20.98

Groceries

↑ 0.3%

Lavallette, NJ

$741

Essex Fells, NJ

$742

Difference

$1.92

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,630

To$2,080

↑ $450

1 Bed

From$1,840

To$2,360

↑ $520

2 Bed

From$2,260

To$2,850

↑ $590

3 Bed

From$2,960

To$3,570

↑ $610

Lavallette, NJZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,840–$1,840/mo

Essex Fells, NJZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,360–$2,360/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 Lavallette, NJ

$5,219

Monthly in Essex Fells, NJ

$2,281

Difference

Home Values

Lavallette

Essex Fells

$1.11M

Median Value

$1.40M

↑ +4.1%

YoY Change

↑ +9%

↑ +55.2%

5-Year Change

↑ +53.1%

Homes in Essex Fells are 27% more expensive than Lavallette

Calculate payment - Lavallette Calculate payment - Essex Fells

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

Lavallette, 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

Essex Fells, 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

Lavallette, NJ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.6%

Property Tax:2.5%

Essex Fells, 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

Lavallette

Essex Fells

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 Lavallette, NJ to Essex Fells, NJ

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Essex Fells, NJ for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Lavallette, 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 Lavallette to Essex Fells moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Lavallette, NJ vs Essex Fells, NJ

How do the cost estimates for Lavallette, NJ and Essex Fells, NJ compare?

Essex Fells, NJ has a modeled overall cost index 27.4% lower than Lavallette, 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 Lavallette, NJ, the model estimates $122,624 in Essex Fells, 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 Lavallette, NJ and Essex Fells, NJ?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,260/month in Lavallette, NJ and $2,850/month in Essex Fells, 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.