City Comparison

Concord vs Newark

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Concord

North Carolina
96
Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,350/mo
Median Rent
$86,900
Median Income

Newark

New Jersey
121
Expensive
$340,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$40,014
Median Income

The Verdict

20.7%

Concord is 20.7% less expensive than Newark overall. A household earning $75,000 in Concord would need approximately $94,531 in Newark to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
89
Concord
149
Newark
Groceries
97
Concord
103
Newark
Utilities
97
Concord
118
Newark
Transportation
92
Concord
115
Newark
Healthcare
104
Concord
105
Newark

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Concord has the same purchasing power as $94,531 in Newark.

Conversely, $75,000 in Newark equals $59,504 in Concord.

Living in Concord vs Newark

Housing Costs

Concord's housing index of 89 is lower Newark's 149, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $340,000. The $40,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,604 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Concord compared to $1,400/mo in Newark, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Concord and 103 in Newark. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Concord vs $489/month in Newark. Concord offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Concord and 118 in Newark. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Concord vs $472 in Newark. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Concord and 105 in Newark. 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 $86,900 in Concord and $40,014 in Newark. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $90,521 and $33,069 respectively. Concord residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,028/month to housing in Concord vs $934/month in Newark. In Concord, median rent of $1,350/mo fits within this budget. In Newark, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 60 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Concord is 20.7% more affordable overall with an index of 96 vs 121.
A $75,000 salary in Concord has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $94,531 in Newark, based on the cost of living difference.
Concord's housing index is 89 with median homes at $380,000, while Newark's is 149 with median homes at $340,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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