Living Cost Compare
Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,430 in Paterson, NJ versus $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Paterson, NJ is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,766 in Paterson, NJ and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 49% higher in Washington, DC. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Paterson, NJ
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$786
$1,763
+124% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,183
$1,885
+59% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,468
$1,949
+33% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,729
$2,249
+30% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$335,400
$724,600
+116% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$53,766
$106,287
+98% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,430
$71,060
+16% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.3 yr
34.9 yr
+1.6 yr in Washington, DC
Homeownership
26.2%
41.1%
+14.9 pp in Washington, DC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
12.5%
63.6%
+51.1 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
23.1 min
30.3 min
+7.2 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,010.1
936.3
+7% in Paterson, NJ
Property Crime
2,391.4
3,627.9
+52% in Washington, DC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.2°F
58.2°F
+6.0°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
49.0 in
39.7 in
+9.3 in in Paterson, NJ

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs WMATA (Metrobus) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
24.4
+2% in Paterson, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.68
$27.28
+54% in Washington, DC

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / DC)
6.625%
6%
+0.6 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
10.75%
10.75%
about equal

Paterson vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Paterson or Washington?
Paterson, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Paterson than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Paterson versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Paterson or Washington?
Paterson is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).