B-
3%
Overall NAT. AVG.
11%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
29%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Trenton New Jersey National
Cost of living97121100
Goods & Services111106100
Groceries103102100
Health care10299100
Housing71158100
Transportation105103100
Utilities108107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Trenton, NJ

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Trenton is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Trenton is 97, which is 3% lower than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

The cost of living in Trenton aligns closely with the national average when compared to other cities across the nation. Everyday essentials such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utility bills are priced at a level consistent with the average in similar urban areas. Trenton residents can anticipate that their daily expenses won't be significantly higher than those in an average city, ensuring that the cost of living remains manageable.

Recurring goods and services expenses like haircuts, toothpaste, gym memberships and movie nights are a big part of your spending and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Trenton, these items will cost you 11.3% more than what most folks pay, making it a bit more expensive to live here.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Trenton?

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 5 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Trenton. The feedback revealed that 60% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 40% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Trenton Affordable?

Is Trenton an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Trenton, the median home price is 47.5% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 14.3% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Trenton come in at $37,002, which is 33.1% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Trenton?

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Trenton, the housing index comes in at 28.9% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Trenton, healthcare costs are 1.9% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Trenton, the groceries index is 2.5% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Trenton cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Trenton is 20% lower than the New Jersey average
  • The cost of living in Trenton is 3% lower than the national average
  • Trenton housing is 29% lower than the national average
  • New Jersey general sales tax is 30% higher than the national average
  • New Jersey state income tax is 38% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Trenton

See all the best places to live around Trenton

Compare Trenton, NJ Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$71,278$5,940$1,663$2,139
      Renters$23,656$1,971$552$710
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Trenton, NJ, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Trenton, homeowners have a median income of $71,278. Using that number, a maximum of $1,663 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $23,656, which means there is a maximum of $552 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      New Jersey Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      New Jersey 6.625% 12.625%

      New Jersey Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      New Jersey 1.4% 10.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Trenton National avg. Difference
      Haircut $30.25$24.2624.7%
      Beauty Salon $53.00$45.5616.3%
      Toothpaste $3.75$3.701.3%
      Shampoo $1.53$1.2819.8%
      Movie $14.53$12.1319.7%
      Bowling $20.98$18.0016.6%

      Groceries

      Item Trenton National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.13$5.845.0%
      Fried Chicken $1.41$1.5710.4%
      Milk $4.70$4.670.5%
      Potatoes $5.32$4.937.8%
      Pizza $12.59$12.094.2%
      Beer $11.12$10.416.8%

      Health Care

      Item Trenton National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $129.93$125.683.4%
      Doctor $124.10$135.788.6%
      Dentist $129.94$113.2914.7%
      Ibuprofen $11.14$10.654.6%
      Lipitor $440.70$468.606.0%

      Housing

      Item Trenton National avg. Difference
      Home Price $97,000.00$184,700.0047.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,956.12$2,346.6926.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,085.00$949.0014.3%

      Transportation

      Item Trenton National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.41$3.461.4%
      Tire Balancing $72.38$59.9220.8%

      Utilities

      Item Trenton National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $223.08$193.9915.0%
      Phone $186.61$192.252.9%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Newtown CDP, PA2508811.7%
      Morrisville CDP, PA862945.8%
      Wrightstown, NJ546982.5%
      Beverly, NJ2,425991.0%
      Burlington, NJ9,8451022.1%
      Trenton, NJ83,387973.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Fort Myers, FL83,50511110.6%
      Goodyear, AZ83,51912120.6%
      Mission, TX83,7968614.2%
      New Westminster, BC82,940n/a 
      Chino Hills, CA82,80017271.6%
      Trenton, NJ83,387973.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.