What is the cost of living in Jersey City, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Jersey City has an overall cost of living index of 146, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Jersey City has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Jersey City ranks as #190 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Jersey City ranks as the #72 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Jersey City, check out:
Jersey City Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Jersey City. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Jersey City is 113.
The Groceries index in Jersey City is 116.
The Health index in Jersey City is 202.
The Housing index in Jersey City is 125.
The Transportation index in Jersey City is 115.
The Utilities index in Jersey City is 125.
| Living Expense | Jersey City | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 146 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 113 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 202 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 125 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 125 | 113 | 100 |
Jersey 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 Jersey City Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Jersey 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 Jersey City is $658,269.
The Median Rent in Jersey City is $2,007.
The Median Income in Jersey City is $97,710.
The Home Value To Income in Jersey City is 6.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Jersey City is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Jersey City | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $658,269 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,007 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $97,710 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.7x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Jersey City, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Jersey City Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Jersey City | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.69 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.68 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $29.4 | $18 |
| Haircut | $34.94 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $64.07 | $45.56 |
Detailed Jersey City Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Jersey City | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.87 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.46 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.97 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.21 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.57 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.87 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.96 | $3.7 |
Detailed Jersey City Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Jersey City | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $128.97 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $162.24 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.64 | $113.29 |
Detailed Jersey City Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Jersey City | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.55 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $86.43 | $59.92 |
Detailed Jersey City Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Jersey City | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.27 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $200.67 | $192.25 |
