Here's How Much You Need To Earn To Live Anywhere In NJ

New Jersey is one of the most expensive states in America, according to the Economic Policy Institute. But you may be able to find a place to live in New Jersey that won't break your budget.

The organization recently released its 2018 family budget calculator that estimates how costly it is to live in each of America's 3,142 counties and 611 metro areas. We have rankings of New Jersey places, county-by-county, based on affordability (see below).

The group, for instance, estimates a family of two adults and two children in Morris County would need to earn a combined $104,121 per year — or $8,677 a month — to live comfortably.

Here's how the group breaks down that number:

• Housing: $1,560 per month
• Food: $870 per month
• Child care: $1,634 per month
• Transportation: $1,226 per month
• Health care: $1,125 per month
• Other necessities: $980 per month
• Taxes $1,282 per month

Here are the rankings of New Jersey places, county-by-county, based on the cost estimate for a family of four. Click on the links to get more of the breakdown in expenses:

1. Hunterdon County $111,459
2. Somerset County $110,247
3. Bergen County $105,042
4. Morris County $104,121
5. Middlesex County $101,927
6. Ocean County $101,370
7. Sussex County $100,814
8. Monmouth County: $98,043
9. Passaic County $97,494
10. Burlington County $95,493
11. Warren County $94,960
12. Hudson County $94,533
13. Mercer County $94,171
14. Atlantic County $93,158
15. Union County $92,937
16. Salem County $92,286
17. Cape May County $91,949
18. Essex County $91,592
19. Gloucester County $91,520
20. Cumberland County $87,920
21. Camden County $87,509

The family budget calculator accounts for geographic differences in cost of living, but does not include many expenses associated with a middle-class lifestyle, including student loan payments or saving for college or retirement.

"Our Family Budget Calculator goes beyond traditional measures like the poverty line to paint a detailed picture of what families need to get by," EPI Senior Economist Elise Gould said in a release. "The latest update provides even greater detail on how costs vary throughout the country. It is above all else a tool for policymakers to advocate for ways to raise wages and make their communities more affordable."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, San Francisco ranked first in the nation as the most expensive metro area with a basic budget of $148,439 a year for a two-parent, two-child household. On the flipside, that same household would only need to earn $58,906 to live comfortably in Brownsville, Texas, the least expensive metro area in the country.

The group noted that many low-wage workers don't make enough money to adequately provide for their family's basic needs. Even after adjusting for higher state and city minimum wages, the group said, there is "nowhere in the country" where a minimum-wage worker would earns enough.

"It's clear from our analysis that, even in less-expensive areas, many families will struggle to meet their basic needs," said research assistant Zane Mokhiber. "The good news is we have many different ways to remedy this, from a higher minimum wage to ambitious child care reform. Policymakers should draw on a range of tools to help people meet the needs laid out in the Family Budget Calculator."

Click here to go to to the calculator. You can change the number of adults and children to see exactly what your household needs to earn to live comfortably in your county.

Patch reporter Dan Hampton contributed to this report

Photo: Shutterstock