Bergen County, NJ vs Cumberland County, NJ: Cost of Living Difference

Is it cheaper?

Cumberland County, NJ is cheaper than Bergen County, NJ.

Moving to Cumberland County, NJ is estimated to save $11,633 per year.

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper County

Cumberland County, NJSave about $11,633 per year.

Salary needed

$50,000 in Bergen County, NJ is about $40,950 in Cumberland County, NJ.

Biggest drivers

Transport increases by $582 per year. Housing saves $5,694 per year.

Housing: $5,694 lower in Cumberland County, NJ

Taxes: $3,755 lower in Cumberland County, NJ

Childcare: about the same in both counties

Healthcare: about the same in both counties

Food: $761 lower in Cumberland County, NJ

Transport: $582 higher in Cumberland County, NJ

Bergen County, NJCumberland County, NJ
Equivalent salary in Cumberland County, NJ
$40,950
-18.1% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Bergen County, NJ: $150,475
Median Income in Cumberland County, NJ: $76,482
Living Index in Bergen County, NJ 42.72%
Living Index in Cumberland County, NJ 68.84%

This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Bergen County, NJ to Cumberland County, NJ.

* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.

Cost of Living Breakdown by Category

Summary

Moving from Bergen County, NJ to Cumberland County, NJ is estimated to save $11,633 per year. A $50,000 salary in Bergen County, NJ would have similar purchasing power to about $40,950 in Cumberland County, NJ. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.

This is a -18.1% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $5,694 per year lower (-28.2%); Taxes is $3,755 per year lower (-28.26%).

Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.

Why this comparison matters

These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Bergen County, NJ and Cumberland County, NJ, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.

Salary needed

A $50,000 salary in Bergen County, NJ would need to be about $40,950 in Cumberland County, NJ, or $9,050 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.

Affordability vs median income

Modeled annual costs equal about 42.7% of median family income in Bergen County, NJ and 68.8% in Cumberland County, NJ. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.

Housing

Housing is $5,694 per year lower in Cumberland County, NJ than in Bergen County, NJ. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Cumberland County, NJ changes their baseline budget.

Food

Food is $761 per year lower in Cumberland County, NJ than in Bergen County, NJ. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Cumberland County, NJ can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.

Transportation

Transportation is $582 per year higher in Cumberland County, NJ than in Bergen County, NJ. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Cumberland County, NJ.

Healthcare

Healthcare is about the same in Bergen County, NJ and Cumberland County, NJ, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Cumberland County, NJ changes provider networks or plan options.

Other necessities

Other necessities is $2,004 per year lower in Cumberland County, NJ than in Bergen County, NJ. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Cumberland County, NJ help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.

Childcare

Childcare is about the same in Bergen County, NJ and Cumberland County, NJ, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Cumberland County, NJ, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.

Taxes

Taxes is $3,755 per year lower in Cumberland County, NJ than in Bergen County, NJ. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Cumberland County, NJ matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.

What changed the most?

The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Cumberland County, NJ.

Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Cumberland County, NJ
Annual Increase:

$582 per year

TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Cumberland County, NJ.

Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Cumberland County, NJ
Annual Savings:

$5,694 per year

HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Cumberland County, NJ.

Breakdown of price percentages per category.

Numbers are average costs per section.

CategoryDifference
Housing-28% lower
Food-16% lower
Transport5% higher
Healthcare0% higher
Other Costs-26% lower
Childcare0% higher
Taxes-28% lower

In Cumberland County, NJ, modeled annual costs are $52,651 compared with $64,284 in Bergen County, NJ.

Overall, annual costs are lower in Cumberland County, NJ. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.

In this case Cumberland County, NJ and Bergen County, NJ are both metropolitan locations.

Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.

View county cost breakdowns

See county rankings

Compare nearby counties

Cost of living methodology and data sources
Bergen County, NJ vs Cumberland County, NJ Cost of Living (2026)