Trenton, NJ vs Ithaca, NY: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Ithaca, NY and Trenton, NJ are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Trenton works out to about $75,100 in Ithaca, before taxes.
- Housing is 5.0% lower in Ithaca, goods 0.1% lower and other services 0.2% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 17.3% higher in Ithaca.
- Typical asking rent is $1,987 a month in Ithaca and $2,523 in Trenton, $6,432 a year less in Ithaca (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $350,000 in Ithaca and $440,000 in Trenton.
- 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 Trenton and Ithaca
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Trenton, NJ
- Ithaca, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Trenton, NJ | Ithaca, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.2 | 103.3 |
| Goods | 99.8 | 99.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 135.1 | 128.4 |
| Utilities | 112.3 | 131.6 |
| Other services | 97.9 | 97.8 |
| Category | Trenton | Ithaca | Ithaca vs Trenton |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.2 | 103.3 | +0.1% |
| Goods | 99.8 | 99.7 | −0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 135.1 | 128.4 | −5.0% |
| Utilities | 112.3 | 131.6 | +17.3% |
| Other services | 97.9 | 97.8 | −0.2% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,523 | $1,987 | −21.2% |
| Typical home value | $440,000 | $350,000 | −20.4% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Trenton | $75,000 | $75,100 | +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 Trenton and Ithaca has narrowed since 2008: 4.4 points then, 0.1 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Trenton, NJ
- Ithaca, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Trenton, NJ | Ithaca, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 104.6 | 100.2 |
| 2009 | 110.2 | 102.3 |
| 2010 | 107.1 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 107.2 | 101.5 |
| 2012 | 108.4 | 101.9 |
| 2013 | 108.6 | 99.8 |
| 2014 | 110.3 | 99.8 |
| 2015 | 108.6 | 103.3 |
| 2016 | 108.8 | 102.0 |
| 2017 | 109.9 | 104.9 |
| 2018 | 103.9 | 101.6 |
| 2019 | 104.3 | 103.7 |
| 2020 | 104.2 | 101.3 |
| 2021 | 101.9 | 102.2 |
| 2022 | 100.8 | 98.7 |
| 2023 | 102.4 | 99.5 |
| 2024 | 103.2 | 103.3 |
Goods
- Trenton, NJ
- Ithaca, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Trenton, NJ | Ithaca, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 102.6 | 101.3 |
| 2009 | 103.7 | 101.5 |
| 2010 | 99.0 | 98.3 |
| 2011 | 101.1 | 98.0 |
| 2012 | 104.5 | 96.9 |
| 2013 | 106.2 | 97.0 |
| 2014 | 103.0 | 97.0 |
| 2015 | 104.6 | 98.7 |
| 2016 | 103.7 | 98.1 |
| 2017 | 102.4 | 98.4 |
| 2018 | 100.4 | 100.1 |
| 2019 | 97.2 | 97.1 |
| 2020 | 99.1 | 98.6 |
| 2021 | 95.5 | 95.4 |
| 2022 | 96.7 | 96.4 |
| 2023 | 97.8 | 97.4 |
| 2024 | 99.8 | 99.7 |
Housing (rents)
- Trenton, NJ
- Ithaca, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Trenton, NJ | Ithaca, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 133.0 | 90.6 |
| 2009 | 145.3 | 103.3 |
| 2010 | 139.4 | 99.8 |
| 2011 | 127.7 | 111.3 |
| 2012 | 140.7 | 116.5 |
| 2013 | 141.6 | 95.4 |
| 2014 | 153.9 | 109.2 |
| 2015 | 135.7 | 119.3 |
| 2016 | 139.5 | 108.2 |
| 2017 | 142.5 | 124.5 |
| 2018 | 139.3 | 112.4 |
| 2019 | 146.7 | 136.0 |
| 2020 | 137.2 | 111.7 |
| 2021 | 126.8 | 124.6 |
| 2022 | 127.3 | 106.4 |
| 2023 | 128.1 | 101.3 |
| 2024 | 135.1 | 128.4 |
Utilities
- Trenton, NJ
- Ithaca, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Trenton, NJ | Ithaca, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 138.6 | 140.2 |
| 2009 | 137.8 | 140.1 |
| 2010 | 131.6 | 135.8 |
| 2011 | 129.4 | 134.4 |
| 2012 | 126.6 | 130.2 |
| 2013 | 122.6 | 131.9 |
| 2014 | 113.6 | 132.7 |
| 2015 | 109.8 | 124.2 |
| 2016 | 115.0 | 122.5 |
| 2017 | 113.6 | 125.6 |
| 2018 | 116.2 | 131.8 |
| 2019 | 118.9 | 131.6 |
| 2020 | 118.6 | 132.1 |
| 2021 | 115.7 | 134.2 |
| 2022 | 108.7 | 132.1 |
| 2023 | 111.0 | 130.8 |
| 2024 | 112.3 | 131.6 |
Other services
- Trenton, NJ
- Ithaca, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Trenton, NJ | Ithaca, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.0 | 100.7 |
| 2009 | 104.9 | 100.6 |
| 2010 | 103.7 | 99.6 |
| 2011 | 105.2 | 99.2 |
| 2012 | 102.8 | 99.6 |
| 2013 | 102.1 | 101.4 |
| 2014 | 105.2 | 97.8 |
| 2015 | 104.8 | 101.2 |
| 2016 | 104.7 | 101.7 |
| 2017 | 107.0 | 102.7 |
| 2018 | 98.0 | 98.4 |
| 2019 | 98.6 | 98.4 |
| 2020 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 2021 | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| 2022 | 97.0 | 96.7 |
| 2023 | 99.0 | 99.2 |
| 2024 | 97.9 | 97.8 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,987 in Ithaca vs $2,523 in Trenton
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Trenton, NJ
- Ithaca, NY
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Trenton, NJ | Ithaca, NY | 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 | $1,666 | $1,309 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,692 | $1,327 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,702 | $1,411 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,719 | $1,358 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,729 | $1,392 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,754 | $1,343 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,774 | $1,445 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,796 | $1,436 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,847 | $1,377 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,878 | $1,445 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,946 | $1,456 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,992 | $1,579 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,083 | $1,647 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,127 | $1,723 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,174 | $1,595 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,187 | $1,704 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,216 | $1,742 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,313 | $1,761 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,306 | $1,763 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,341 | $1,774 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,350 | $1,806 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,400 | $1,815 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,404 | $1,863 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,431 | $1,874 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,459 | $1,868 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,471 | $1,899 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,464 | $1,914 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,487 | $1,883 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,473 | $1,971 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,523 | $1,917 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,523 | $1,987 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $350,000 in Ithaca vs $440,000 in Trenton
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Trenton, NJ
- Ithaca, NY
- 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
| Trenton, NJ | Ithaca, NY | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $239K | $196K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $241K | $197K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $243K | $201K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $244K | $204K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $246K | $204K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $248K | $204K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $249K | $206K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $250K | $210K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $250K | $212K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $253K | $215K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $254K | $217K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $257K | $219K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $260K | $220K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $263K | $221K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $265K | $223K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $265K | $223K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $268K | $223K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $272K | $221K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $272K | $222K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $275K | $225K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $281K | $228K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $285K | $229K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $287K | $233K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $297K | $243K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $307K | $247K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $320K | $256K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $330K | $264K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $337K | $270K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $349K | $279K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $364K | $293K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $365K | $298K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $366K | $295K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $375K | $295K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $388K | $303K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $398K | $312K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $405K | $316K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $416K | $318K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $425K | $326K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $432K | $331K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $436K | $334K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $439K | $336K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $441K | $336K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $439K | $339K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $438K | $342K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $440K | $345K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $440K | $350K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $440K | $350K | $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.