Cost of living comparison
California is 4.0% more expensive than New Jersey.
- Restaurants
-
pay 7.3% more in California
- Groceries
-
pay 0.1% less in California
- Transportation
-
pay 5.9% less in California
- Housing
-
pay 22.5% more in California
- Childcare
-
pay 6.8% more in California
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 3.7% more in California
- Clothing
-
pay 6.1% less in California
The cost of housing, restaurants, childcare, and entertainment and sports in California are more expensive than in New Jersey. Expenses including clothing, transportation, and groceries are lower in California.
If you lived in California instead of New Jersey, you would:
pay 7.3% more for restaurants
|
New Jersey
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$19.00
|
$21.02
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.19
|
$11.52
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.49
|
$2.71
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.02
|
$2.16
|
|
pay 0.1% less for groceries
|
New Jersey
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.89
|
$4.14
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.30
|
$6.95
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.36
|
$4.61
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.63
|
$4.33
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.77
|
$5.70
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.60
|
$2.34
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.90
|
$0.92
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.10
|
$1.91
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.65
|
$2.38
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.28
|
$1.39
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.59
|
$1.44
|
|
pay 5.9% less for transportation
|
New Jersey
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.49
|
$4.83
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$133.88
|
$62.05
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,750.31
|
$30,005.28
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.65
|
$20.07
|
|
pay 22.5% more for housing
|
New Jersey
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$58.37
|
$68.54
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,167.23
|
$2,371.29
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,865.29
|
$2,055.18
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$112.29
|
$171.68
|
|
pay 6.8% more for childcare
|
New Jersey
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,618.98
|
$1,682.51
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$28,166.67
|
$30,905.75
|
|
pay 3.7% more for entertainment and sports
|
New Jersey
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.72
|
$7.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.97
|
$5.34
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$11.57
|
$10.91
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$54.75
|
$66.35
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.73
|
$14.41
|
|
pay 6.1% less for clothing
|
New Jersey
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$53.04
|
$52.77
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$45.58
|
$40.15
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$91.11
|
$85.15
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$124.03
|
$117.31
|
|
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