Atlantic City-Hammonton cost of living
Prices in the Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ metro area run at 98.9 against a national average of 100, ranking it #98 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 98.7.
What drives the number
Atlantic City-Hammonton sits at 98.9, which is as close to the national average as this series gets. Places at the average are rarer than people assume, and it means a dollar here goes about as far as a dollar anywhere. Against New Jersey as a whole it is 9.9 points less expensive, which is the unusual direction, and it means the expensive part of the state is somewhere else.
The parts move together here rather than pulling against each other: goods at 99.8, rents at 98.7, other services at 109.2. That is less common than it sounds. In most places rents sit well away from the other two, and the overall figure is really a housing figure in disguise.
A salary here goes further than the same salary somewhere at 100. Divide by 98.9 and multiply by 100 to get the nationally comparable figure, and it will come out higher than the headline.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Atlantic City-Hammonton is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | 6,190 | $36,350 | $36,754 | $33,760 |
| Cashiers | 5,360 | $31,470 | $31,820 | $31,190 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 4,640 | $32,250 | $32,609 | $30,480 |
| Retail Salespersons | 4,370 | $34,120 | $34,499 | $34,580 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 4,090 | $36,760 | $37,169 | $34,900 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 3,550 | $40,440 | $40,890 | $36,830 |
| Registered Nurses | 3,500 | $99,680 | $100,789 | $93,600 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 3,420 | $37,780 | $38,200 | $35,930 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 98.9.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | 112.6 | 148.6 | #5 |
| Trenton-Princeton | 103.2 | 135.1 | #47 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | 102.6 | 113.1 | #50 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | 100.0 | 105.5 | #90 |
| Vineland | 96.0 | 83.9 | #146 |
Atlantic City-Hammonton: common questions
Is Atlantic City-Hammonton expensive?
Prices are 1.1% below the national average, a parity of 98.9 where the country is 100. It ranks #98 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against New Jersey as a whole it is 9.9 points less expensive.
What salary do you need in Atlantic City-Hammonton?
The median worker there earns $46,290, which buys what $46,805 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 98.7 against goods at 99.8. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.