Living Cost Compare
Jersey City

New Jersey

$2,100/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 40% 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 $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 42% higher in Jersey City, NJ. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Jersey City, NJ
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,949
$1,103
+43% in Jersey City, NJ
1 Bedroom
$1,853
$1,024
+45% in Jersey City, NJ
2 Bedroom
$1,857
$1,213
+35% in Jersey City, NJ
3 Bedroom
$2,004
$1,394
+30% in Jersey City, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$534,500
$224,500
+58% in Jersey City, NJ

Income

Median Household Income
$94,813
$55,269
+42% in Jersey City, NJ
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,430
$54,310
+12% in Jersey City, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.7 yr
37.0 yr
+2.3 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
28.8%
46.0%
+17.2 pp in Wilmington, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
53.1%
33.1%
+20.0 pp in Jersey City, NJ
Avg Commute
36.9 min
23.0 min
+13.9 min in Jersey City, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
562.9
1,138.2
+102% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
2,036.4
3,182.4
+56% in Wilmington, DE

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
54.9°F
+0.1°F in Jersey City, NJ
Annual Precipitation
49.9 in
43.1 in
+6.9 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
19.3
+23% in Jersey City, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.68
$29.73
+68% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Jersey City, NJ
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Jersey City, NJ
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Wilmington, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Jersey City, NJ
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Jersey City, NJ
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Jersey City, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / DE)
6.625%
None
+6.6 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
10.75%
6.60%
+4.2 pp in NJ

Jersey City vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jersey City or Wilmington?
Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% 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 Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $74,000 a year in Jersey City versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Jersey City or Wilmington?
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); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).