Jersey City vs St. Petersburg: Cost of Living Comparison
How does the cost of living in Jersey City, New Jersey compare to St. Petersburg, Florida? Below is a side-by-side breakdown of housing costs, income, wages, and taxes using official government data.
Summary: St. Petersburg is the more affordable city overall. Housing costs are 73% higher in Jersey City compared to St. Petersburg, while rent is 28% higher. FL has no state income tax.
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | St. Petersburg, FL | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| Median Home Value | $500,100 | $289,000 | +73.0% |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799 | $1,410 | +27.6% |
| Income | |||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 | $70,333 | +29.6% |
| Per Capita Income | $54,582 | $46,755 | +16.7% |
| Taxes | |||
| State Income Tax Rate | 10.8% | None | same |
| Combined Sales Tax | 6.6% | 7.0% | -5.5% |
| Demographics | |||
| Population | 287,899 | 259,343 | +11.0% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022), Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. State/local tax rates from Tax Foundation (2024).
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Jersey City
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — St. Petersburg
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Key Takeaways
- Housing: The median home in Jersey City costs $500,100 compared to $289,000 in St. Petersburg — a 73% premium.
- Rent: Median rent is $1,799/mo in Jersey City vs $1,410/mo in St. Petersburg.
- Income: Median household income is $91,151 in Jersey City and $70,333 in St. Petersburg.
- Taxes: Florida has no state income tax, while New Jersey has a 10.75% rate.
Methodology
This comparison uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2022) for median household income, median home value, median gross rent, per capita income, and population. State and local tax rates are sourced from the Tax Foundation. Mortgage rates are from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (updated weekly).