Is it cheaper to live in Jersey City or Naperville?

Naperville, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,800 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Jersey City, NJ's $2,100, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Jersey City than in Naperville?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $74,000 a year in Jersey City versus $64,000 in Naperville.

Which has lower taxes, Jersey City or Naperville?

Jersey City is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Jersey City vs Naperville Cost of Living 2026

Jersey City

New Jersey

$2,100/mo est.

Naperville

Illinois

$1,800/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,100 in Jersey City, NJ versus $1,800 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Naperville, IL is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jersey City, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,813 in Jersey City, NJ and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 37% higher in Naperville, IL. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Jersey City, NJ

Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio

$1,949

$1,713

+12% in Jersey City, NJ

1 Bedroom

$1,853

$1,594

+14% in Jersey City, NJ

2 Bedroom

$1,857

$1,889

+2% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$2,004

$2,446

+22% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$534,500

$509,900

+5% in Jersey City, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$94,813

$150,937

+59% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,430

$54,720

+11% in Jersey City, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

40.1 yr

+5.4 yr in Naperville, IL

Homeownership

28.8%

74.3%

+45.5 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

53.1%

71.7%

+18.6 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

36.9 min

31.4 min

+5.5 min in Jersey City, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

562.9

85.7

+85% in Jersey City, NJ

Property Crime

2,036.4

892.2

+56% in Jersey City, NJ

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

55.0°F

49.9°F

+5.1°F in Jersey City, NJ

Annual Precipitation

49.9 in

36.9 in

+13.0 in in Jersey City, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Jersey City, NJ

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.9

19.9

+20% in Jersey City, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.68

$19.71

+11% in Naperville, IL

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Jersey City, NJ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Naperville, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Jersey City, NJ

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Jersey City, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Jersey City, NJ

Average prices — Northeast vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / IL)

6.625%

6.25%

+0.4 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

10.75%

4.95%

+5.8 pp in NJ

Jersey City vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jersey City or Naperville?: Naperville, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,800 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Jersey City, NJ's $2,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jersey City than in Naperville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $74,000 a year in Jersey City versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Jersey City or Naperville?: Jersey City is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).