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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,885 in Jersey City, NJ versus $2,958 in Philadelphia, PA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,471 in Jersey City, NJ versus $4,388 in Philadelphia, PA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,056 in Jersey City, NJ versus $5,817 in Philadelphia, PA.

Living in Jersey City, NJ is roughly 31% more expensive than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Jersey City, NJ 190% above, Philadelphia, PA 121% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.65 $19.65

$19.74 $19.74

-0.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.8 $99.8

$88.7 $88.7

12.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$12.03 $12.03

17.29%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$4.93 $4.93

6.29%

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

$2.37 $2.37

$2.70 $2.70

-12.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.94 $1.94

-4.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.89 $6.89

$5.98 $5.98

15.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$6.80 $6.80

34.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.37 $1.37

-5.84%

White Bread (500g)

$3.73 $3.73

$4.13 $4.13

-9.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$10.28 $10.28

-47.76%

Eggs

$4.94 $4.94

$4.49 $4.49

10.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.69 $21.69

$15.12 $15.12

43.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.00 $12.00

$13.67 $13.67

-12.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.44 $17.44

$21.23 $21.23

-17.85%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$6.13 $6.13

-21.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.24 $2.24

-20.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$5.17 $5.17

-21.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$5.20 $5.20

-20.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.28 $3.28

-14.94%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.88 $2.88

32.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$3.03 $3.03

-17.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.44 $2.44

10.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.00 $12.00

$12.68 $12.68

-5.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$15.03 $15.03

-0.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.94 $1.94

-9.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.97 $5.97

$4.10 $4.10

45.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.54 $2.54

11.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$95.8 $95.8

$94.1 $94.1

1.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.97 $2.97

-1.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.59 $1.59

11.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.61 $23.61

$22.44 $22.44

5.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.86 $0.86

-1.16%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$27.1K $27.1K

29.92%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.4K $25.4K

0.81%

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

$127 $127

$270 $270

-52.83%

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

$44.25 $44.25

$61.9 $61.9

-28.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$77.3 $77.3

-17.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.5 $79.5

$49.48 $49.48

60.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$43.42 $43.42

$32.90 $32.90

31.98%

Cinema Ticket

$16.83 $16.83

$14.92 $14.92

12.80%

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

$2,218 $2,218

$2,044 $2,044

8.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K $23.8K

$43.1K $43.1K

-44.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.6 $74.6

$51.1 $51.1

45.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.6 $63.6

$42.53 $42.53

49.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 $73.5

$93.7 $93.7

-21.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 $132

$141 $141

-6.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,350 $3,350

$1,791 $1,791

87.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,480 $2,480

$1,388 $1,388

78.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,189 $6,189

$3,149 $3,149

96.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,648 $3,648

$2,263 $2,263

61.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,951 $7,951

$4,044 $4,044

96.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,557 $5,557

$1,844 $1,844

201.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,308 $6,308

$4,475 $4,475

40.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

6.68

-0.90%

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

Last update for Jersey City, NJ: May 31, 2026

Last update for Philadelphia, PA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,350 in Jersey City, NJ and $1,791 in Philadelphia, PA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jersey City, NJ pays 41% 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 $89.0 in Philadelphia, PA. Groceries flip the comparison at $449 vs $487, with Jersey City, NJ cheaper for home cooking.

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 Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Jersey City, NJ pays 41% more on average, 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: $3,350 in Jersey City, NJ versus $1,791 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 2% less than in Jersey City, NJ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,218 in Jersey City, NJ versus $2,044 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 31% less than in Jersey City, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.