CostIndexUSA

Atlantic City, NJ vs Salinas, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNJ
Atlantic City
98.9
overall index
$2,225/mo rent
CA
Salinas
109
overall index
$2,875/mo rent

Atlantic City is moderately cheaper than Salinas — 10.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Atlantic City, you would need $88,200 in Salinas. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+47.6%
Atlantic City
98.7
Salinas
145.7
🛒 Groceries+5.4%
Atlantic City
99.8
Salinas
105.2
🚗 Transportation+2.4%
Atlantic City
102.8
Salinas
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+2.5%
Atlantic City
93
Salinas
95.3
Utilities+41.2%
Atlantic City
109.2
Salinas
154.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Atlantic City to see what you'd need to earn in Salinas to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Salinas, CA
$88,200
$8,200 more needed in Salinas

Formula: salary × (109 ÷ 98.9) = salary × 1.1021. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Atlantic City, NJ

Median Home Price
$369,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,225
Housing Index
98.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.8×

Salinas, CA

Median Home Price
$826,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,875
Housing Index
145.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.9×

Salinas has 47.6% higher housing costs compared to Atlantic City.

Income & Job Market

Atlantic City, NJ

Median Household Income
$80,100
Per Capita Income
$45,700
Unemployment Rate
6%
Population
38,497
Top Industries
GamingTourismHealthcareHospitalityRetail

Salinas, CA

Median Household Income
$88,000
Per Capita Income
$50,200
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
163,542
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingGovernmentEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Atlantic City, NJ
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Salinas, CA
2.6×income-to-rent ratio

61% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.