Is Paterson expensive to live in?

Paterson is on the pricier side of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,183 per month ranks #53 of 158 and is 13% higher than the $1,043 median.

What is the average rent in Paterson?

Average rent in Paterson, NJ runs a studio around $786, a one-bedroom around $1,183, a two-bedroom around $1,468, a three-bedroom around $1,729 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Paterson?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,183 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year. The median household income here is $53,766.

How much does it cost to live in Paterson per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Paterson is about $1,430 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Paterson, NJ

Population 157,660 · New Jersey

~$1,430/mo est.1BR $1,183Home $335,400

Photo: Robert Thiemann / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Paterson, NJ is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,183 a month — 13% higher than the $1,043 median across the 158 large US cities we track. Studios average $786 and two-bedrooms $1,468.

Median household income here is $53,766, 21% lower than the $67,696 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,430 before food and transport. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,183

Studio

$786

1 Bedroom

$1,183

2 Bedroom

$1,468

3 Bedroom

$1,729

Buying a Home$335,400

Median Home Value

$335,400

Income$53,766

Median Household Income

$53,766

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,430

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesNortheast

Milk (gal)

$4.31

Bread (lb)

$1.92

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

Average prices, Northeast (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities24.9¢/kWh

Electricity

24.9¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$17.68/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-06-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.94/gal

Regular Gasoline (East Coast (PADD 1))

$3.94/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-31.

State Taxes (NJ)6.625% sales

State Sales Tax

6.63%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 10.75%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime1,010.1 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

1,010.1

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

2,391.4

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Paterson Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 33.3 yrs

Median Age

33.3 yrs

Homeownership

26.2%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

12.5%

Avg Commute

23.1 min

Climate52.2°F

Avg Annual Temperature

52.2°F

Annual Precipitation

49.0 in

Paterson cost of living — FAQ

Is Paterson expensive to live in?: Paterson is on the pricier side of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,183 per month ranks #53 of 158 and is 13% higher than the $1,043 median.
What is the average rent in Paterson?: Average rent in Paterson, NJ runs a studio around $786, a one-bedroom around $1,183, a two-bedroom around $1,468, a three-bedroom around $1,729 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Paterson?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,183 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year. The median household income here is $53,766.
How much does it cost to live in Paterson per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Paterson is about $1,430 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Paterson with nearby cities

Paterson vs Newark Paterson vs Jersey City Paterson vs New York City Paterson vs Bridgeport Paterson vs New Haven Paterson vs Allentown

Nearby cities

Newark, NJ 13 mi Jersey City, NJ 15 mi New York City, NY 17 mi Bridgeport, CT 54 mi New Haven, CT 70 mi Allentown, PA 72 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.