Living Cost Compare
Jersey City

New Jersey

$2,100/mo est.

vs
Overland Park

Kansas

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Overland Park, KS. Overall, Overland Park, KS is roughly 33% 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 $103,838 in Overland Park, KS — about 9% higher in Overland Park, KS. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,949
$1,270
+35% in Jersey City, NJ
1 Bedroom
$1,853
$1,224
+34% in Jersey City, NJ
2 Bedroom
$1,857
$1,589
+14% in Jersey City, NJ
3 Bedroom
$2,004
$1,828
+9% in Jersey City, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$534,500
$384,400
+28% in Jersey City, NJ

Income

Median Household Income
$94,813
$103,838
+10% in Overland Park, KS
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,430
$50,820
+17% in Jersey City, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.7 yr
38.6 yr
+3.9 yr in Overland Park, KS
Homeownership
28.8%
61.5%
+32.7 pp in Overland Park, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
53.1%
62.9%
+9.8 pp in Overland Park, KS
Avg Commute
36.9 min
19.9 min
+17.0 min in Jersey City, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
562.9
188.4
+67% in Jersey City, NJ
Property Crime
2,036.4
1,790.5
+12% 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
55.2°F
+0.2°F in Overland Park, KS
Annual Precipitation
49.9 in
40.0 in
+9.9 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
15.7
+37% in Jersey City, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.68
$25.12
+42% in Overland Park, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Jersey City, NJ
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Overland Park, KS
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 / KS)
6.625%
6.5%
+0.1 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
10.75%
5.58%
+5.2 pp in NJ

Jersey City vs Overland Park — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jersey City or Overland Park?
Overland Park, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% 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 Overland Park?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $74,000 a year in Jersey City versus $49,000 in Overland Park.
Which has lower taxes, Jersey City or Overland Park?
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); Overland Park under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).