CostIndexUSA

Jersey City, NJ vs San Diego, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NJ
Jersey City
112.6
overall index
$3,225/mo rent
More AffordableCA
San Diego
111.9
overall index
$2,875/mo rent

San Diego is slightly cheaper than Jersey City — 0.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Jersey City, you would need $79,500 in San Diego. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+20.7%
Jersey City
148.6
San Diego
179.3
🛒 Groceries2.1%
Jersey City
110.3
San Diego
108
🚗 Transportation5.9%
Jersey City
111.1
San Diego
104.6
🏥 Healthcare5.9%
Jersey City
100.5
San Diego
94.6
Utilities+37.2%
Jersey City
127
San Diego
174.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Diego, CA
$79,500
$500 less needed in San Diego

Formula: salary × (111.9 ÷ 112.6) = salary × 0.9938. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Jersey City, NJ

Median Home Price
$703,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,225
Housing Index
148.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.2×

San Diego, CA

Median Home Price
$904,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,875
Housing Index
179.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.2×

San Diego has 20.7% higher housing costs compared to Jersey City.

Income & Job Market

Jersey City, NJ

Median Household Income
$95,200
Per Capita Income
$54,300
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
292,449
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareTechnologyRetailGovernment

San Diego, CA

Median Household Income
$103,700
Per Capita Income
$59,100
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
1,386,932
Top Industries
MilitaryTechnologyTourismBiotechnologyHealthcare

Affordability at a Glance

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

Jersey City, NJ
2.5×income-to-rent ratio

59% of income left after rent (median)

San Diego, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.