Cost of Living in Jersey City, NJ, United States

RESTAURANTS

There are all sorts of restaurants, from the very top quality to the cheaper ones, and all types of ethnic foods are available.

As for going out and eating in restaurants, the amount of money you spend is up to you, and if you want to save up, you can always go to one of the chain fast food places.

MARKETS

Living (and eating) expense again depends on your standard of living but in general, your monthly expense could come out to be somewhere between 200$ – this is if you’re being thrifty and smart about your food, and not splurging around.

If you plan on cooking, keep in mind that you’ll save a lot of money that way.

TRANSPORTATION

Unlike in Manhattan, taxis can be difficult to come by in Jersey City and you often have to call ahead to have one pick you up.

The bus system is awful and even locals have difficulty understanding where buses go or how often they run.

And on top of that – it isn’t even cheap!

A one-way ticket costs nearly 3$.

UTILITIES (MONTHLY)

Including electricity, water, garbage, heating and cooling, basic monthly utilities are costlier than in some other cities but with higher salaries in Jersey City, they really don’t take up a lot of the people’s salaries.

For an apartment around 85m2 (which is definitely bigger than a usual apartment for one or two people), these will cost you 180$ approximately.

SPORTS & LEISURE

Liberty State Park is a very nice place for a run and many, many people go jogging there each morning.

A membership at the gym or a fitness club can’t go by without you cashing out around 52$, which is actually pretty expensive for an American city, and if you want to go to the cinema, add to that another 20$ per person.

CLOTHING & SHOES

Although Jersey City isn’t known for its extensive shopping options, the city’s new society has begun to bring with it classier and pricier shops, like for instance the Newport Mall, located between Washington and Marin boulevards, which is the country’s largest indoor mall.

If you want a pair of Levi’s, it will cost you around 96$, though. Quality sneakers cost around 77$.

RENT PER MONTH

Rent is shockingly expensive in Jersey City.

If you’re looking to rent an apartment and save some money, you will need to stroll out of the city center and here you can rent one for around 1800$ which is a regular price, actually, for America’s top visited cities.

However, prepare another 1200$ if you’re looking for a one or two-room apartment in the city center.