Head to head
Newark, NJ vs Oceanside, CA
Oceanside is cheaper — estimated essentials for a single person run about $152/mo less, and living comfortably there takes roughly $2,000 less in annual salary (taxes included).
It flips for a family. For two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child, Newark is the cheaper of the two — rent scales to household size using each city's own bedroom spread, and childcare varies even more sharply between cities than rent does.
| Metric | Newark53 | Oceanside60 |
|---|---|---|
| Est. monthly cost (single) | $4,864 | $4,712 |
| Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare) | $11,134 | $11,720 |
| Salary for comfort | $92,500/yr | $90,500/yr |
| Typical rent | $2,205 | $2,207 |
| Median home value | $337,800 | $702,000 |
| Median household income | $48,416 | $93,724 |
| Unemployment | 6.6% | 4.5% |
| Housing score | 8 | 20 |
| Jobs score | 38 | 47 |
| Safety score | 56 | 65 |
| Climate score | 99 | 100 |
| Amenities score | 55 | 62 |
| Population | 307.2K | 172.5K |
| Summer high / winter low | 86° / 25° | 76° / 40° |
Fit scores use the reference profile (single, $6,700/mo gross, default weights). Green marks the better value per row.
Newark, NJ
Oceanside, CA