Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Jersey City, NJ and Philadelphia, PA

For one person, living is cheaper in Philadelphia, PA: $2,836 a month against $3,854 in Jersey City, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $12,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

187

Cost of Living Index in Jersey City, NJ
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Jersey City, NJ Living Index
139

Cost of Living Index in Philadelphia, PA
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Philadelphia, PA Living Index

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Jersey City, NJ

🇺🇸 United States

$3,854

/mo nomad

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,836

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Jersey City, NJ and in Philadelphia, PA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Jersey City, NJ and in Philadelphia, PA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,854 in Jersey City, NJ versus $2,836 in Philadelphia, PA.

Jersey City, NJ $3,854
Philadelphia, PA $2,836

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,348 in Jersey City, NJ versus $4,251 in Philadelphia, PA.

Jersey City, NJ $5,348
Philadelphia, PA $4,251

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,841 in Jersey City, NJ versus $5,667 in Philadelphia, PA.

Jersey City, NJ $6,841
Philadelphia, PA $5,667

Living in Jersey City, NJ is roughly 36% more expensive than in Philadelphia, PA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Jersey City, NJ 186% above, Philadelphia, PA 110% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.34 $25.34

$21.64 $21.64

17.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$80.7 $80.7

23.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.83 $10.83

$12.71 $12.71

-14.79%

Cappuccino

$5.40 $5.40

$5.42 $5.42

-0.37%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$3.12 $3.12

-30.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.23 $2.23

-29.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.11 $8.11

$5.87 $5.87

38.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.18 $8.18

$7.92 $7.92

3.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.48 $1.48

-12.84%

White Bread (500g)

$4.20 $4.20

$4.54 $4.54

-7.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.58 $7.58

$7.31 $7.31

3.69%

Eggs

$5.68 $5.68

$4.94 $4.94

14.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.52 $12.52

$12.25 $12.25

2.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.68 $11.68

$12.67 $12.67

-7.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$17.90 $17.90

-3.41%

Apples (1kg)

$5.28 $5.28

$5.44 $5.44

-2.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.54 $1.54

11.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.44 $6.44

$5.16 $5.16

24.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.13 $6.13

$5.14 $5.14

19.26%

Potato (1kg)

$5.66 $5.66

$2.74 $2.74

106.57%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.10 $3.10

23.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.48 $2.48

16.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.44 $2.44

15.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.19 $11.19

$12.91 $12.91

-13.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.79 $24.79

$14.84 $14.84

67.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.40 $2.40

-26.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.44 $4.44

24.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.88 $2.88

6.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

$101 $101

4.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.77 $2.77

6.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.55 $1.55

29.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.20 $24.20

$24.04 $24.04

0.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.15 $1.15

-2.61%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.8K $36.8K

$36.1K $36.1K

1.75%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.8K $25.8K

$25.5K $25.5K

0.99%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$209 $209

$214 $214

-2.23%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$73.2 $73.2

$64.1 $64.1

14.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 $64.8

$63.9 $63.9

1.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.3 $56.3

$81.6 $81.6

-31.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$43.47 $43.47

$92.8 $92.8

-53.13%

Cinema Ticket

$14.60 $14.60

$15.65 $15.65

-6.71%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$2,246 $2,246

-0.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$42.9K $42.9K

-45.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.50 $41.50

$48.98 $48.98

-15.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.2 $58.2

$47.03 $47.03

23.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.8 $74.8

$105 $105

-28.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$155 $155

$140 $140

10.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,501 $3,501

$2,000 $2,000

75.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,282 $2,282

$1,311 $1,311

74.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,540 $5,540

$4,458 $4,458

24.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,248 $3,248

$2,225 $2,225

45.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,779 $7,779

$4,112 $4,112

89.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,595 $5,595

$1,857 $1,857

201.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,205 $6,205

$4,503 $4,503

37.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

6.62

1.96%

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

Last update for Jersey City, NJ: October 12, 2026

Last update for Philadelphia, PA: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Jersey City, NJ

$2.3K 59.2%

Philadelphia, PA

$1.3K 46.2% 42.6% $972

Groceries & Markets

Jersey City, NJ

$488 12.7%

Philadelphia, PA

$450 15.9% 7.8% $38

Eating Out

Jersey City, NJ

$372 9.7%

Philadelphia, PA

$343 12.1% 7.8% $29

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Jersey City, NJ

$347 9%

Philadelphia, PA

$342 12.1% 1.5% $5.2

Clothing & Footwear

Jersey City, NJ

$148 3.8%

Philadelphia, PA

$154 5.4% 3.7% $5.4

Getting Around

Jersey City, NJ

$131 3.4%

Philadelphia, PA

$123 4.4% 5.7% $7.5

Sport & Entertainment

Jersey City, NJ

$85 2.2%

Philadelphia, PA

$113 4% 32% $27

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,501 in Jersey City, NJ and $2,000 in Philadelphia, PA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jersey City, NJ pays 38% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $100 in Jersey City, NJ vs $81.0 in Philadelphia, PA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $488 vs $450 per month, with Philadelphia, PA cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Jersey City, NJ

🇺🇸 Philadelphia, PA

🕒 Local time

05:42 5:42 AM

Same time as Jersey City, NJ

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

292,449

1,573,916

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.889 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Jersey City, NJ Philadelphia, PA 130 km

From you

Jersey City, NJ
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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

Jersey City, NJ vs Philadelphia, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Philadelphia, PA is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 38% higher in Jersey City, NJ, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $3,501 in Jersey City, NJ versus $2,000 in Philadelphia, PA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Philadelphia, PA runs roughly 4% less than in Jersey City, NJ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,245 in Jersey City, NJ versus $2,246 in Philadelphia, PA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Philadelphia, PA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Philadelphia, PA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Jersey City, NJ, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Philadelphia, PA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Jersey City, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.