Atlanta, GA vs Trenton, NJ: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Trenton, NJ is 3.1% more expensive than Atlanta, GA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Atlanta works out to about $77,300 in Trenton, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 21.7% more in Trenton. Goods are 0.6% lower and other services 1.3% higher.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 16.7% higher in Trenton.
- Typical asking rent is $2,523 a month in Trenton and $1,843 in Atlanta, $8,160 a year more in Trenton (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $440,000 in Trenton and $376,000 in Atlanta.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Trenton was 6.3% more expensive than Atlanta.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 21.7% higher in Trenton than in Atlanta
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Atlanta, GA
- Trenton, NJ
All items Atlanta, GA: 100.1 Trenton, NJ: 103.2
Goods Atlanta, GA: 100.4 Trenton, NJ: 99.8
Housing (rents) Atlanta, GA: 111.0 Trenton, NJ: 135.1
Utilities Atlanta, GA: 96.2 Trenton, NJ: 112.3
Other services Atlanta, GA: 96.7 Trenton, NJ: 97.9
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Atlanta, GA | Trenton, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.1 | 103.2 |
| Goods | 100.4 | 99.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 111.0 | 135.1 |
| Utilities | 96.2 | 112.3 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 97.9 |
| Category | Atlanta | Trenton | Trenton vs Atlanta |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.1 | 103.2 | +3.1% |
| Goods | 100.4 | 99.8 | −0.6% |
| Housing (rents) | 111.0 | 135.1 | +21.7% |
| Utilities | 96.2 | 112.3 | +16.7% |
| Other services | 96.7 | 97.9 | +1.3% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,843 | $2,523 | +36.9% |
| Typical home value | $376,000 | $440,000 | +17.0% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Atlanta | $75,000 | $77,300 | +3.1% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Atlanta and Trenton has narrowed since 2008: 6.5 points then, 3.1 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Atlanta, GA
- Trenton, NJ
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Atlanta, GA | Trenton, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.1 | 104.6 |
| 2009 | 95.1 | 110.2 |
| 2010 | 98.3 | 107.1 |
| 2011 | 96.5 | 107.2 |
| 2012 | 99.2 | 108.4 |
| 2013 | 98.3 | 108.6 |
| 2014 | 98.5 | 110.3 |
| 2015 | 98.1 | 108.6 |
| 2016 | 98.4 | 108.8 |
| 2017 | 99.4 | 109.9 |
| 2018 | 98.2 | 103.9 |
| 2019 | 98.1 | 104.3 |
| 2020 | 98.7 | 104.2 |
| 2021 | 99.0 | 101.9 |
| 2022 | 98.6 | 100.8 |
| 2023 | 100.5 | 102.4 |
| 2024 | 100.1 | 103.2 |
Goods
- Atlanta, GA
- Trenton, NJ
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Atlanta, GA | Trenton, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.9 | 102.6 |
| 2009 | 97.7 | 103.7 |
| 2010 | 96.7 | 99.0 |
| 2011 | 97.8 | 101.1 |
| 2012 | 99.8 | 104.5 |
| 2013 | 99.8 | 106.2 |
| 2014 | 99.4 | 103.0 |
| 2015 | 99.4 | 104.6 |
| 2016 | 98.9 | 103.7 |
| 2017 | 99.2 | 102.4 |
| 2018 | 99.0 | 100.4 |
| 2019 | 97.0 | 97.2 |
| 2020 | 97.1 | 99.1 |
| 2021 | 97.1 | 95.5 |
| 2022 | 99.1 | 96.7 |
| 2023 | 98.5 | 97.8 |
| 2024 | 100.4 | 99.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Atlanta, GA
- Trenton, NJ
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Atlanta, GA | Trenton, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.6 | 133.0 |
| 2009 | 101.1 | 145.3 |
| 2010 | 96.5 | 139.4 |
| 2011 | 96.0 | 127.7 |
| 2012 | 95.4 | 140.7 |
| 2013 | 94.0 | 141.6 |
| 2014 | 95.0 | 153.9 |
| 2015 | 96.0 | 135.7 |
| 2016 | 98.3 | 139.5 |
| 2017 | 98.8 | 142.5 |
| 2018 | 98.9 | 139.3 |
| 2019 | 99.6 | 146.7 |
| 2020 | 102.7 | 137.2 |
| 2021 | 105.5 | 126.8 |
| 2022 | 107.3 | 127.3 |
| 2023 | 110.9 | 128.1 |
| 2024 | 111.0 | 135.1 |
Utilities
- Atlanta, GA
- Trenton, NJ
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Atlanta, GA | Trenton, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.8 | 138.6 |
| 2009 | 92.9 | 137.8 |
| 2010 | 98.8 | 131.6 |
| 2011 | 103.3 | 129.4 |
| 2012 | 101.8 | 126.6 |
| 2013 | 101.3 | 122.6 |
| 2014 | 98.5 | 113.6 |
| 2015 | 101.9 | 109.8 |
| 2016 | 102.4 | 115.0 |
| 2017 | 105.1 | 113.6 |
| 2018 | 98.9 | 116.2 |
| 2019 | 101.7 | 118.9 |
| 2020 | 101.3 | 118.6 |
| 2021 | 100.0 | 115.7 |
| 2022 | 102.2 | 108.7 |
| 2023 | 96.9 | 111.0 |
| 2024 | 96.2 | 112.3 |
Other services
- Atlanta, GA
- Trenton, NJ
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Atlanta, GA | Trenton, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.6 | 98.0 |
| 2009 | 91.5 | 104.9 |
| 2010 | 100.2 | 103.7 |
| 2011 | 95.2 | 105.2 |
| 2012 | 99.8 | 102.8 |
| 2013 | 98.4 | 102.1 |
| 2014 | 99.0 | 105.2 |
| 2015 | 97.5 | 104.8 |
| 2016 | 98.0 | 104.7 |
| 2017 | 99.5 | 107.0 |
| 2018 | 97.4 | 98.0 |
| 2019 | 98.3 | 98.6 |
| 2020 | 98.7 | 99.2 |
| 2021 | 98.6 | 99.8 |
| 2022 | 95.5 | 97.0 |
| 2023 | 99.0 | 99.0 |
| 2024 | 96.7 | 97.9 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,523 in Trenton vs $1,843 in Atlanta
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Atlanta, GA
- Trenton, NJ
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Atlanta, GA | Trenton, NJ | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $995 | $1,507 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,024 | $1,536 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,033 | $1,522 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,038 | $1,541 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,055 | $1,540 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,080 | $1,580 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,092 | $1,572 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,095 | $1,580 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,118 | $1,581 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,152 | $1,609 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,165 | $1,600 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,165 | $1,632 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,191 | $1,631 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,222 | $1,658 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,228 | $1,650 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,245 | $1,654 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,268 | $1,666 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,298 | $1,692 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,309 | $1,702 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,304 | $1,719 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,324 | $1,729 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,342 | $1,754 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,378 | $1,774 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,394 | $1,796 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,445 | $1,847 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,528 | $1,878 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,638 | $1,946 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,662 | $1,992 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,681 | $2,083 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,734 | $2,127 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,767 | $2,174 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,739 | $2,187 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,754 | $2,216 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,766 | $2,313 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,766 | $2,306 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,733 | $2,341 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,751 | $2,350 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,768 | $2,400 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,770 | $2,404 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,751 | $2,431 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,780 | $2,459 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,793 | $2,471 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,805 | $2,464 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,790 | $2,487 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,800 | $2,473 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,826 | $2,523 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,843 | $2,523 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $440,000 in Trenton vs $376,000 in Atlanta
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Atlanta, GA
- Trenton, NJ
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Atlanta, GA | Trenton, NJ | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $176K | $239K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $179K | $241K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $183K | $243K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $187K | $244K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $191K | $246K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $195K | $248K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $197K | $249K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $201K | $250K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $206K | $250K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $210K | $253K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $213K | $254K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $218K | $257K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $224K | $260K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $228K | $263K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $233K | $265K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $237K | $265K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $242K | $268K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $244K | $272K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $246K | $272K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $250K | $275K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $256K | $281K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $257K | $285K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $263K | $287K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $275K | $297K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $289K | $307K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $306K | $320K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $320K | $330K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $336K | $337K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $360K | $349K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $381K | $364K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $384K | $365K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $379K | $366K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $376K | $375K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $379K | $388K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $385K | $398K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $388K | $405K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $391K | $416K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $394K | $425K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $394K | $432K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $392K | $436K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $389K | $439K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $384K | $441K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $382K | $439K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $381K | $438K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $379K | $440K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $377K | $440K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $376K | $440K | $366K |
More about each city
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.