City Comparison

Gresham vs Newark

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gresham

Oregon
128
Expensive
$459,000
Median Home
$1,450/mo
Median Rent
$69,600
Median Income

Newark

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

The Verdict

5.8%

Living in Newark costs 5.8% less than Gresham. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Gresham, you would need $70,898 in Newark.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
172
Gresham
149
Newark
Groceries
101
Gresham
103
Newark
Utilities
96
Gresham
118
Newark
Transportation
126
Gresham
115
Newark
Healthcare
103
Gresham
105
Newark

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gresham has the same purchasing power as $70,898 in Newark.

Conversely, $75,000 in Newark equals $79,339 in Gresham.

Living in Gresham vs Newark

Housing Costs

Gresham's housing index of 172 is higher Newark's 149, translating to median home prices of $459,000 vs $340,000. The $119,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,740 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,450/mo in Gresham compared to $1,400/mo in Newark, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Gresham and 103 in Newark. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Gresham vs $489/month in Newark. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Gresham and 118 in Newark. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Gresham 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 103 in Gresham 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 $69,600 in Gresham and $40,014 in Newark. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,375 and $33,069 respectively. Gresham residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,624/month to housing in Gresham vs $934/month in Newark. In Gresham, median rent of $1,450/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 23 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Newark is 5.8% more affordable overall with an index of 121 vs 128.
A $75,000 salary in Gresham has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $70,898 in Newark, based on the cost of living difference.
Gresham's housing index is 172 with median homes at $459,000, while Newark's is 149 with median homes at $340,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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