City Comparison

Jersey City vs Yonkers

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Jersey City

New Jersey
162
Very Expensive
$540,000
Median Home
$2,600/mo
Median Rent
$80,820
Median Income

Yonkers

New York
142
Expensive
$635,000
Median Home
$2,200/mo
Median Rent
$80,600
Median Income

The Verdict

14.1%

Living in Yonkers costs 14.1% less than Jersey City. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Jersey City, you would need $65,741 in Yonkers.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
249
Jersey City
203
Yonkers
Groceries
105
Jersey City
106
Yonkers
Utilities
128
Jersey City
117
Yonkers
Transportation
121
Jersey City
116
Yonkers
Healthcare
106
Jersey City
107
Yonkers

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Jersey City has the same purchasing power as $65,741 in Yonkers.

Conversely, $75,000 in Yonkers equals $85,563 in Jersey City.

Living in Jersey City vs Yonkers

Housing Costs

Jersey City's housing index of 249 is higher Yonkers's 203, translating to median home prices of $540,000 vs $635,000. The $95,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,180 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,600/mo in Jersey City compared to $2,200/mo in Yonkers, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 105 in Jersey City and 106 in Yonkers. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $499/month in Jersey City vs $504/month in Yonkers. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 128 in Jersey City and 117 in Yonkers. Monthly utility bills average approximately $512 in Jersey City vs $468 in Yonkers. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Jersey City and 107 in Yonkers. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $80,820 in Jersey City and $80,600 in Yonkers. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,889 and $56,761 respectively. Yonkers residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,886/month to housing in Jersey City vs $1,881/month in Yonkers. In Jersey City, median rent of $2,600/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Yonkers, median rent of $2,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 46 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yonkers is 14.1% more affordable overall with an index of 142 vs 162.
A $75,000 salary in Jersey City has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $65,741 in Yonkers, based on the cost of living difference.
Jersey City's housing index is 249 with median homes at $540,000, while Yonkers's is 203 with median homes at $635,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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