Greensboro, NC vs. Jersey City, NJ
Median rent is $1,114 a month in Greensboro, NC and $1,902 in Jersey City, NJ. Household income is $58,884 against $94,813. Both cities are read from the same ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates and the same BEA Regional Price Parities 2023, so the two columns below are directly comparable.
A green or red badge means the second city is higher or lower, not better or worse: a lower rent is good for a tenant, a lower household income is not. For the price level and
the share of income the raw values are shown, because a percentage difference between two
percentages is easy to misread.
What the gap means
Occupation wages in both metros
May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Metropolitan areas may differ from city boundaries.
| Occupation | Greensboro, NC median | Jersey City, NJ median | vs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | $30,750 | $38,280 | +24.5% |
| Registered Nurses | $82,860 | $119,720 | +44.5% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $34,520 | $42,840 | +24.1% |
| General and Operations Managers | $100,930 | $157,000 | +55.6% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,200 | $35,420 | +25.6% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,060 | $47,610 | +58.4% |
| Customer Service Representatives | $41,240 | $49,590 | +20.2% |
| Software Developers | $125,190 | $166,830 | +33.3% |
Metropolitan areas and cover every industry together, so the two columns may describe wider areas than the city limits used for rent and income.
Greensboro, NC vs Jersey City, NJ: frequently asked questions
Is Jersey City, NJ more expensive than Greensboro, NC?
Yes. Prices in Jersey City, NJ are about 17.5% higher than in Greensboro, NC: a regional price level of 108.9 against 92.7, where the U.S. average is 100.
How much do I need to earn in Jersey City, NJ to keep a $100,000 lifestyle from Greensboro, NC?
About $117,500. Adjusting $100,000 by the BEA regional price levels of the two areas (92.7 in Greensboro, NC, 108.9 in Jersey City, NJ) gives the salary with the same purchasing power. Taxes and personal spending habits are not included.
Is rent cheaper in Greensboro, NC or Jersey City, NJ?
The median gross rent is $1,114 a month in Greensboro, NC and $1,902 in Jersey City, NJ, a difference of $788 a month or $9,456 a year.
Where are household incomes higher, Greensboro, NC or Jersey City, NJ?
The median household income is $58,884 in Greensboro, NC and $94,813 in Jersey City, NJ. Rent takes 22.7% of the median income in Greensboro, NC and 24.1% in Jersey City, NJ.
What salary do I need to afford the median rent in Jersey City, NJ?
About $76,100 a year, the gross income that keeps the median rent of $1,902 a month at 30% of income. The same rule gives $44,600 in Greensboro, NC.
More comparisons with Greensboro, NC
More comparisons with Jersey City, NJ
Definitions used on this page
- Salary needed for the median rent
- Twelve months of median gross rent divided by 0.30: the income that keeps the median rent at 30% of gross pay.
- Price level
- BEA regional price parity for the metro area where one is published, otherwise for the state. The national average is 100.
- Same standard of living
- A salary in Greensboro, NC converted into Jersey City, NJ at the ratio of the two price levels. It adjusts for prices only, not for taxes or for what either city offers.
- Buying power
- One hundred divided by the price level: what a dollar buys locally relative to the national average.
Sources
- Census Bureau — ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates
- Census Bureau — ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates
- BEA — BEA Regional Price Parities 2023
Margins of error are published for every Census figure. Read the methodology before reading a small gap between two cities as a real difference.
Full detail for each city: Greensboro, NC · Jersey City, NJ