Cost of Living Comparison Between Jena and Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Jena and Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,773 per month in Jena vs $2,654 in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,661 per month in Jena vs $3,940 in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,549 per month in Jena vs $5,226 in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ, rent included.

Jena is about 33% cheaper than Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jena and Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ sit above the global median – Jena by 32%, Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ by 98%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jena
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.70 €10.07
$14.75 $14.75
-20.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.5 €49.48
$40.30 $40.30
42.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.18 €9.63
$11.87 $11.87
-5.81%
Cappuccino
$4.02 €3.46
$4.45 $4.45
-9.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 €2.79
$2.04 $2.04
58.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 €2.90
$2.05 $2.05
64.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.15 €4.43
$6.02 $6.02
-14.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76 €4.10
$5.88 $5.88
-19.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jena
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 €1.07
$1.10 $1.10
12.73%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 €1.89
$4.10 $4.10
-46.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 €2.81
$2.58 $2.58
26.36%
Eggs
$3.86 €3.32
$3.57 $3.57
8.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.56 €12.53
$13.36 $13.36
8.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.66 €11.76
$6.71 $6.71
103.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.24 €16.56
$14.53 $14.53
32.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 €2.84
$2.59 $2.59
27.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$1.19 $1.19
43.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.26 €1.94
$2.72 $2.72
-16.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.43 €3.81
$2.92 $2.92
51.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 €1.29
$2.23 $2.23
-33.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 €1.30
$2.26 $2.26
-33.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 €1.53
$1.03 $1.03
72.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 €0.93
$0.49 $0.49
120.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.76 €8.40
$10.92 $10.92
-10.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.86 €5.05
$15.24 $15.24
-61.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 €0.88
$1.75 $1.75
-41.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 €1.34
$1.98 $1.98
-21.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Jena
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.95 €2.54
$2.05 $2.05
43.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.3 €57.9
$96.2 $96.2
-30.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.53 €3.90
$2.03 $2.03
123.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.08 €2.65
$1.64 $1.64
87.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.46 €29.67
$42.82 $42.82
-19.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 €1.74
$0.80 $0.80
152.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K €27.4K
$29.5K $29.5K
7.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8K €31.7K
$24.6K $24.6K
49.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jena
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$329 €283
$179 $179
83.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.75 €27.33
$45.82 $45.82
-30.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5 €44.30
$40.12 $40.12
28.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jena
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.54 €29.73
$42.22 $42.22
-18.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.90 €19.71
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.52 €9.05
$11.96 $11.96
-12.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jena
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$349 €301
$1,867 $1,867
-81.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K €12.4K
$40.5K $40.5K
-64.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jena
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.0 €74.9
$32.85 $32.85
164.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.54 €20.27
$46.78 $46.78
-49.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 €109
$96.1 $96.1
31.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €105
$132 $132
-7.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jena
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$783 €674
$1,802 $1,802
-56.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$473 €407
$1,510 $1,510
-68.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,251 €1,077
$3,179 $3,179
-60.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$867 €747
$2,852 $2,852
-69.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,061 $3,061
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,867 €2,469
$2,469 $2,469
16.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jena
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,389 €2,917
$7,364 $7,364
-53.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.98
6.35
-37.32%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Jena: May 30, 2026

Last update for Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $783 in Jena versus $1,802 in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 117% higher in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Jena versus $40.00 in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $338 vs $304 – making Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Jena vs Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jena or Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ?
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ costs about 50% more than Jena, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Jena vs Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,660 per month in Jena and $3,981 in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Jena or Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jena, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Jena and Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ?
Kindergarten costs $349 per month in Jena and $1,867 in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Jena or Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ?
Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Jena or Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Jena, where all-in costs run around $1,773, than in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ at $2,654. In Jena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Jena – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Jena compared to Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Jena or Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ?
If budget matters most, go with Jena. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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