Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Salem?

Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Newark, NJ's $1,210, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Salem?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Newark versus $40,000 in Salem.

Which has lower taxes, Newark or Salem?

Newark is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Newark vs Salem Cost of Living 2026

Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/mo est.

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,210 in Newark, NJ versus $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Salem, OR is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, NJ, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $48,416 in Newark, NJ and $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 33% higher in Salem, OR. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Newark, NJ

Salem, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,111

$1,075

+3% in Newark, NJ

1 Bedroom

$978

$989

+1% in Salem, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,386

$1,337

+4% in Newark, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,695

$1,778

+5% in Salem, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$337,800

$382,400

+13% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$48,416

$71,900

+49% in Salem, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,430

$55,310

+10% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.8 yr

35.7 yr

+0.9 yr in Salem, OR

Homeownership

24.1%

55.7%

+31.6 pp in Salem, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

17.4%

31.4%

+14.0 pp in Salem, OR

Avg Commute

33.2 min

22.4 min

+10.8 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

582.5

540.6

+7% in Newark, NJ

Property Crime

1,961.8

2,878.6

+47% in Salem, OR

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

54.9°F

53.0°F

+1.9°F in Newark, NJ

Annual Precipitation

46.3 in

39.7 in

+6.6 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.09/gal

+32% in Salem, OR

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.3

16.3

+30% in Newark, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.93

$20.59

+29% in Salem, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Salem, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Salem, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Salem, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Newark, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

Average prices — Northeast vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / OR)

6.625%

None

+6.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

10.75%

9.90%

+0.8 pp in NJ

Newark vs Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Salem?: Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Newark, NJ's $1,210, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Salem?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Newark versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Salem?: Newark is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).