What is the cost of living in Atlantic City, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Atlantic City has an overall cost of living index of 104, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Atlantic City has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Atlantic City ranks as #22 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Atlantic City ranks as the #240 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Atlantic City, check out:
Atlantic City Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Atlantic City. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Atlantic City is 110.
The Groceries index in Atlantic City is 111.
The Health index in Atlantic City is 87.
The Housing index in Atlantic City is 115.
The Transportation index in Atlantic City is 113.
The Utilities index in Atlantic City is 112.
| Living Expense | Atlantic City | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 104 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 87 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 112 | 113 | 100 |
Atlantic City Cost Of Living Compared To New Jersey Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New Jersey, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Atlantic City Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Atlantic City, NJ Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Jersey, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Atlantic City is $215,470.
The Median Rent in Atlantic City is $1,136.
The Median Income in Atlantic City is $41,028.
The Home Value To Income in Atlantic City is 5.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Atlantic City is 0.33x.
| Statistic | Atlantic City | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $215,470 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,136 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $41,028 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.3x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.33x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Atlantic City, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Atlantic City Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Atlantic City | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.52 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.75 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.47 | $18 |
| Haircut | $23.54 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $66.27 | $45.56 |
Detailed Atlantic City Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Atlantic City | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.76 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.46 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.67 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.37 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.73 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.99 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.65 | $3.7 |
Detailed Atlantic City Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Atlantic City | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.5 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $132.56 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $103.31 | $113.29 |
Detailed Atlantic City Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Atlantic City | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.53 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.89 | $59.92 |
Detailed Atlantic City Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Atlantic City | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $222.45 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $198.27 | $192.25 |
