City Comparison

Beaumont vs Paterson

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

Texas
78
Very Affordable
$166,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

Paterson

New Jersey
125
Expensive
$360,000
Median Home
$1,450/mo
Median Rent
$56,000
Median Income

The Verdict

37.6%

The cost gap between these cities is 37.6%, with Beaumont being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to $120,192 in Paterson.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
81
Beaumont
137
Paterson
Groceries
96
Beaumont
106
Paterson
Utilities
102
Beaumont
111
Paterson
Transportation
93
Beaumont
105
Paterson
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
112
Paterson

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $120,192 in Paterson.

Conversely, $75,000 in Paterson equals $46,800 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs Paterson

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is lower Paterson's 137, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $360,000. The $194,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,612 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $1,450/mo in Paterson, a monthly difference of $450.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 106 in Paterson. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $504/month in Paterson. Beaumont offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $576/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Beaumont and 111 in Paterson. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $444 in Paterson. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont and 112 in Paterson. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $57,000 in Beaumont and $56,000 in Paterson. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $44,800 respectively. Beaumont residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $1,307/month in Paterson. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Paterson, median rent of $1,450/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 56 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 37.6% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 125.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $120,192 in Paterson, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while Paterson's is 137 with median homes at $360,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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