City comparison
Philadelphia, PA vs Trenton, NJ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Philadelphia, PA (102.6) and Trenton, NJ (103.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Philadelphia, PA goes as far as $100,600 in Trenton, NJ.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,520 a month in Philadelphia, PA and $1,545 in Trenton, NJ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,110 a year higher in Trenton, NJ than in Philadelphia, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +6.9% moving from Philadelphia, PA to Trenton, NJ ($117,284 → $125,431), while prices change by +0.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +6.3% in real buying power.
- Philadelphia, PA: price level 102.6 (pricier)
- Trenton, NJ: price level 103.2 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Philadelphia, PA | Trenton, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.6 | 103.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,610 in Trenton | $99,393 in Philadelphia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,520/mo | $1,545/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $75,000 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $4,180 (NJ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,310 | $63,490 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA |
Rent areas: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA and Trenton-Princeton, NJ MSA. Metro areas: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD and Trenton-Princeton, NJ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Philadelphia | Trenton |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 113.1 | 135.1 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 99.8 |
| Utilities | 114.4 | 112.3 |
| Other services | 103.1 | 97.9 |
| Overall | 102.6 | 103.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Philadelphia, PA → Trenton, NJ
Roughly even
Buying power −0.6%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$1,110/yr.
67 Fair offer
Trenton, NJ → Philadelphia, PA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.6%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$1,110/yr.
71 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Philadelphia, PA is in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD pay area; Trenton, NJ is in New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Philadelphia, PA to Trenton, NJ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Philadelphia, PA | Trenton, NJ | Real change, Philadelphia → Trenton |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,013 | $72,737 | +6.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $82,289 | $88,005 | +6.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $98,630 | $105,481 | +6.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $117,284 | $125,431 | +6.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $138,595 | $148,222 | +6.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Philadelphia, PA | Trenton, NJ | Trenton pay in Philadelphia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,570 | $77,850 | $77,378 (−1.5%) |
| Software Developers | $133,040 | $128,770 | $127,989 (−3.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,990 | $99,550 | $98,946 (+15.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,180 | $99,990 | $99,383 (−1.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.