CostIndexUSA

Jersey City, NJ vs San Luis Obispo, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NJ
Jersey City
112.6
overall index
$3,225/mo rent
More AffordableCA
San Luis Obispo
108.6
overall index
$3,000/mo rent

San Luis Obispo is slightly cheaper than Jersey City — 3.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Jersey City, you would need $77,200 in San Luis Obispo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing2.8%
Jersey City
148.6
San Luis Obispo
144.4
🛒 Groceries4.6%
Jersey City
110.3
San Luis Obispo
105.2
🚗 Transportation5.2%
Jersey City
111.1
San Luis Obispo
105.3
🏥 Healthcare5.2%
Jersey City
100.5
San Luis Obispo
95.3
Utilities+16.4%
Jersey City
127
San Luis Obispo
147.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Jersey City to see what you'd need to earn in San Luis Obispo to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in San Luis Obispo, CA
$77,200
$2,800 less needed in San Luis Obispo

Formula: salary × (108.6 ÷ 112.6) = salary × 0.9645. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Jersey City, NJ

Median Home Price
$703,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,225
Housing Index
148.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.2×

San Luis Obispo, CA

Median Home Price
$880,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,000
Housing Index
144.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.4×

Jersey City has 2.8% lower housing costs compared to San Luis Obispo.

Income & Job Market

Jersey City, NJ

Median Household Income
$95,200
Per Capita Income
$54,300
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
292,449
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareTechnologyRetailGovernment

San Luis Obispo, CA

Median Household Income
$90,700
Per Capita Income
$51,700
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
47,536
Top Industries
EducationTourismAgricultureHealthcareTechnology

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Jersey City, NJ
2.5×income-to-rent ratio

59% of income left after rent (median)

San Luis Obispo, CA
2.5×income-to-rent ratio

60% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.