CostIndexUSA

Jersey City, NJ vs Trenton, NJ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NJ
Jersey City
112.6
overall index
$3,225/mo rent
More AffordableNJ
Trenton
103.2
overall index
$2,450/mo rent

Trenton is moderately cheaper than Jersey City — 8.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Jersey City, you would need $73,300 in Trenton. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing9.1%
Jersey City
148.6
Trenton
135.1
🛒 Groceries9.5%
Jersey City
110.3
Trenton
99.8
🚗 Transportation7.5%
Jersey City
111.1
Trenton
102.8
🏥 Healthcare7.5%
Jersey City
100.5
Trenton
93
Utilities11.6%
Jersey City
127
Trenton
112.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Trenton, NJ
$73,300
$6,700 less needed in Trenton

Formula: salary × (103.2 ÷ 112.6) = salary × 0.9165. 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×

Trenton, NJ

Median Home Price
$434,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,450
Housing Index
135.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Jersey City has 9.1% lower housing costs compared to Trenton.

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

Trenton, NJ

Median Household Income
$96,200
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
5.9%
Population
90,871
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareFinanceManufacturingEducation

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)

Trenton, NJ
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

69% 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.