Atlantic City, NJ vs Phillipsburg, NJ

Atlantic City, NJ and Phillipsburg, NJ have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.3% difference in their overall index. Atlantic City scores 83 while Phillipsburg scores 83 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Atlantic City is $1,084/month compared to $1,118/month in Phillipsburg — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Atlantic City has cheaper rent, Phillipsburg actually has lower median home values ($180,700 vs $189,600).

Median household income in Atlantic City is $36,220 compared to $67,782 in Phillipsburg (-46.6%). While Phillipsburg is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Atlantic City spend roughly 35.9% of their income on rent, more than the 19.8% in Phillipsburg. The Phillipsburg ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.