Ithaca, NY vs Trenton, NJ: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Trenton, NJ and Ithaca, NY are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Ithaca works out to about $74,900 in Trenton, before taxes.
- Housing is 5.2% higher in Trenton, goods 0.1% higher and other services 0.2% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $2,523 a month in Trenton and $1,987 in Ithaca, $6,432 a year more in Trenton (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $440,000 in Trenton and $350,000 in Ithaca.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.6%).
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.
Overall prices are about the same in Ithaca and Trenton
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Ithaca, NY
- Trenton, NJ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Ithaca, NY | Trenton, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.3 | 103.2 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 99.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 128.4 | 135.1 |
| Utilities | 131.6 | 112.3 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 97.9 |
| Category | Ithaca | Trenton | Trenton vs Ithaca |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.3 | 103.2 | −0.1% |
| Goods | 99.7 | 99.8 | +0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 128.4 | 135.1 | +5.2% |
| Utilities | 131.6 | 112.3 | −14.7% |
| Other services | 97.8 | 97.9 | +0.2% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,987 | $2,523 | +27.0% |
| Typical home value | $350,000 | $440,000 | +25.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Ithaca | $75,000 | $74,900 | −0.1% |
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 Ithaca and Trenton has narrowed since 2008: 4.4 points then, 0.1 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Ithaca, NY
- Trenton, NJ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Ithaca, NY | Trenton, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.2 | 104.6 |
| 2009 | 102.3 | 110.2 |
| 2010 | 100.0 | 107.1 |
| 2011 | 101.5 | 107.2 |
| 2012 | 101.9 | 108.4 |
| 2013 | 99.8 | 108.6 |
| 2014 | 99.8 | 110.3 |
| 2015 | 103.3 | 108.6 |
| 2016 | 102.0 | 108.8 |
| 2017 | 104.9 | 109.9 |
| 2018 | 101.6 | 103.9 |
| 2019 | 103.7 | 104.3 |
| 2020 | 101.3 | 104.2 |
| 2021 | 102.2 | 101.9 |
| 2022 | 98.7 | 100.8 |
| 2023 | 99.5 | 102.4 |
| 2024 | 103.3 | 103.2 |
Goods
- Ithaca, NY
- Trenton, NJ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Ithaca, NY | Trenton, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.3 | 102.6 |
| 2009 | 101.5 | 103.7 |
| 2010 | 98.3 | 99.0 |
| 2011 | 98.0 | 101.1 |
| 2012 | 96.9 | 104.5 |
| 2013 | 97.0 | 106.2 |
| 2014 | 97.0 | 103.0 |
| 2015 | 98.7 | 104.6 |
| 2016 | 98.1 | 103.7 |
| 2017 | 98.4 | 102.4 |
| 2018 | 100.1 | 100.4 |
| 2019 | 97.1 | 97.2 |
| 2020 | 98.6 | 99.1 |
| 2021 | 95.4 | 95.5 |
| 2022 | 96.4 | 96.7 |
| 2023 | 97.4 | 97.8 |
| 2024 | 99.7 | 99.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Ithaca, NY
- Trenton, NJ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Ithaca, NY | Trenton, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 90.6 | 133.0 |
| 2009 | 103.3 | 145.3 |
| 2010 | 99.8 | 139.4 |
| 2011 | 111.3 | 127.7 |
| 2012 | 116.5 | 140.7 |
| 2013 | 95.4 | 141.6 |
| 2014 | 109.2 | 153.9 |
| 2015 | 119.3 | 135.7 |
| 2016 | 108.2 | 139.5 |
| 2017 | 124.5 | 142.5 |
| 2018 | 112.4 | 139.3 |
| 2019 | 136.0 | 146.7 |
| 2020 | 111.7 | 137.2 |
| 2021 | 124.6 | 126.8 |
| 2022 | 106.4 | 127.3 |
| 2023 | 101.3 | 128.1 |
| 2024 | 128.4 | 135.1 |
Utilities
- Ithaca, NY
- Trenton, NJ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Ithaca, NY | Trenton, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 140.2 | 138.6 |
| 2009 | 140.1 | 137.8 |
| 2010 | 135.8 | 131.6 |
| 2011 | 134.4 | 129.4 |
| 2012 | 130.2 | 126.6 |
| 2013 | 131.9 | 122.6 |
| 2014 | 132.7 | 113.6 |
| 2015 | 124.2 | 109.8 |
| 2016 | 122.5 | 115.0 |
| 2017 | 125.6 | 113.6 |
| 2018 | 131.8 | 116.2 |
| 2019 | 131.6 | 118.9 |
| 2020 | 132.1 | 118.6 |
| 2021 | 134.2 | 115.7 |
| 2022 | 132.1 | 108.7 |
| 2023 | 130.8 | 111.0 |
| 2024 | 131.6 | 112.3 |
Other services
- Ithaca, NY
- Trenton, NJ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Ithaca, NY | Trenton, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.7 | 98.0 |
| 2009 | 100.6 | 104.9 |
| 2010 | 99.6 | 103.7 |
| 2011 | 99.2 | 105.2 |
| 2012 | 99.6 | 102.8 |
| 2013 | 101.4 | 102.1 |
| 2014 | 97.8 | 105.2 |
| 2015 | 101.2 | 104.8 |
| 2016 | 101.7 | 104.7 |
| 2017 | 102.7 | 107.0 |
| 2018 | 98.4 | 98.0 |
| 2019 | 98.4 | 98.6 |
| 2020 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 2021 | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| 2022 | 96.7 | 97.0 |
| 2023 | 99.2 | 99.0 |
| 2024 | 97.8 | 97.9 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,523 in Trenton vs $1,987 in Ithaca
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Ithaca, NY
- 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
| Ithaca, NY | Trenton, NJ | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | $1,507 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | $1,536 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | $1,522 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | $1,541 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | $1,540 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | $1,580 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | $1,572 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | $1,580 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | $1,581 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | $1,609 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | $1,600 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | $1,632 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | $1,631 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | $1,658 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | $1,650 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | $1,654 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,309 | $1,666 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,327 | $1,692 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,411 | $1,702 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,358 | $1,719 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,392 | $1,729 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,343 | $1,754 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,445 | $1,774 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,436 | $1,796 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,377 | $1,847 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,445 | $1,878 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,456 | $1,946 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,579 | $1,992 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,647 | $2,083 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,723 | $2,127 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,595 | $2,174 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,704 | $2,187 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,742 | $2,216 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,761 | $2,313 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,763 | $2,306 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,774 | $2,341 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,806 | $2,350 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,815 | $2,400 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,863 | $2,404 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,874 | $2,431 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,868 | $2,459 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,899 | $2,471 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,914 | $2,464 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,883 | $2,487 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,971 | $2,473 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,917 | $2,523 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,987 | $2,523 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $440,000 in Trenton vs $350,000 in Ithaca
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Ithaca, NY
- 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
| Ithaca, NY | Trenton, NJ | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $196K | $239K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $197K | $241K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $201K | $243K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $204K | $244K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $204K | $246K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $204K | $248K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $206K | $249K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $210K | $250K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $212K | $250K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $215K | $253K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $217K | $254K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $219K | $257K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $220K | $260K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $221K | $263K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $223K | $265K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $223K | $265K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $223K | $268K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $221K | $272K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $222K | $272K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $225K | $275K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $228K | $281K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $229K | $285K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $233K | $287K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $243K | $297K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $247K | $307K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $256K | $320K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $264K | $330K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $270K | $337K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $279K | $349K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $293K | $364K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $298K | $365K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $295K | $366K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $295K | $375K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $303K | $388K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $312K | $398K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $316K | $405K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $318K | $416K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $326K | $425K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $331K | $432K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $334K | $436K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $336K | $439K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $336K | $441K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $339K | $439K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $342K | $438K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $345K | $440K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $350K | $440K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $350K | $440K | $366K |
More about each city
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.