What is the cost of living in Trenton, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Trenton has an overall cost of living index of 100, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Trenton has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Trenton ranks as #10 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Trenton ranks as the #252 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Trenton, check out:
Trenton Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Trenton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Trenton is 107.
The Groceries index in Trenton is 117.
The Health index in Trenton is 73.
The Housing index in Trenton is 113.
The Transportation index in Trenton is 112.
The Utilities index in Trenton is 108.
| Living Expense | Trenton | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 117 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 73 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 113 | 100 |
Trenton 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 Trenton Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Trenton, 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 Trenton is $345,375.
The Median Rent in Trenton is $1,294.
The Median Income in Trenton is $52,537.
The Home Value To Income in Trenton is 6.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Trenton is 0.3x.
| Statistic | Trenton | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $345,375 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,294 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $52,537 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.6x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.3x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Trenton, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Trenton Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Trenton | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.53 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.53 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.98 | $18 |
| Haircut | $30.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $53.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Trenton Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Trenton | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.13 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.7 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.32 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.59 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.12 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed Trenton Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Trenton | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.1 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $129.94 | $113.29 |
Detailed Trenton Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Trenton | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $72.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Trenton Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Trenton | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.08 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Trenton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Trenton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Trenton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Levittown, PA has a cost of living index of 108, 1.1x Trenton.
Willow Grove, PA has a cost of living index of 113, 1.1x Trenton.
Mercerville, NJ has a cost of living index of 122, 1.2x Trenton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Trenton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Levittown, PA | 50,926 | 108 | 1.1x |
| Willow Grove, PA | 14,131 | 113 | 1.1x |
| Mercerville, NJ | 13,535 | 122 | 1.2x |
| Hamilton Square, NJ | 11,622 | 127 | 1.3x |
| White Horse, NJ | 10,507 | 115 | 1.1x |
| Kendall Park, NJ | 10,011 | 140 | 1.4x |
| Fairless Hills, PA | 8,827 | 108 | 1.1x |
| Twin Rivers, NJ | 8,382 | 121 | 1.2x |
| Hatboro, PA | 8,283 | 117 | 1.2x |
| Fort Dix, NJ | 7,984 | 133 | 1.3x |
