Rents are 3% below what South Amboy's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,500 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in South Amboy is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2023.
Rent in South Amboy changed +3.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 121 New Jersey cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($91,997) is $2,300 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,050); a 3-bedroom is $2,490.
Plainfield, 13 miles away, rents for 12% less ($2,191/mo), about $3,700 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for South Amboy. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
South Amboy, NJ is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 28.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How South Amboy, NJ has changed in 5 years
Rent in South Amboy, NJ has increased 14.1% since 2023, going from about $2,192 per month to roughly $2,500 today. Census figures show median household income at $91,997 today, compared with $93,859 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 16.1 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 9,320 to 9,989 between 2021 and 2024, a 7.2% change. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2023.
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At $2,500/mo, how South Amboy rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
South Amboy rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in South Amboy. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in South Amboy
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in South Amboy is $2,500/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,450/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,050/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,630/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,490/mo.
At 33% of local median household income ($91,997/yr), South Amboy ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in South Amboy?
Is rent going up or down in South Amboy?
How does South Amboy rent compare to other cities in New Jersey?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than South Amboy?
At $2,500/mo, rent takes ~33% of South Amboy's median household income ($91,997/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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