Living Cost Compare
Jersey City

New Jersey

$2,100/mo est.

vs
Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/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 $1,660 in Nashua, NH. Overall, Nashua, NH is roughly 21% 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 $92,457 in Nashua, NH — about 2% higher in Jersey City, NJ. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,949
$1,127
+42% in Jersey City, NJ
1 Bedroom
$1,853
$1,383
+25% in Jersey City, NJ
2 Bedroom
$1,857
$1,699
+9% in Jersey City, NJ
3 Bedroom
$2,004
$1,951
+3% in Jersey City, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$534,500
$373,100
+30% in Jersey City, NJ

Income

Median Household Income
$94,813
$92,457
+2% in Jersey City, NJ
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,430
$56,530
+8% in Jersey City, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.7 yr
39.7 yr
+5.0 yr in Nashua, NH
Homeownership
28.8%
56.4%
+27.6 pp in Nashua, NH
Bachelor's+ (25+)
53.1%
40.5%
+12.6 pp in Jersey City, NJ
Avg Commute
36.9 min
25.3 min
+11.6 min in Jersey City, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
562.9
164.9
+71% in Jersey City, NJ
Property Crime
2,036.4
1,269
+38% 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
49.2°F
+5.8°F in Jersey City, NJ
Annual Precipitation
49.9 in
44.6 in
+5.4 in in Jersey City, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
27.0
+8% in Nashua, NH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.68
$21.67
+23% in Nashua, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / NH)
6.625%
None
+6.6 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
10.75%
None
+10.8 pp in NJ

Jersey City vs Nashua — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jersey City or Nashua?
Nashua, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,660 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% 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 Nashua?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $74,000 a year in Jersey City versus $55,000 in Nashua.
Which has lower taxes, Jersey City or Nashua?
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); Nashua under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no 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).