

Ames vs Trenton
$260/mo less in Trenton
AmesTrentonAbout 993 miles apart, a flight.
- Trenton costs you more
- Property tax 2.51%
- Rent under 30% of pay
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,141/mo in Trenton. $2,401/mo in Ames. −$3,120 a year.
Ames
$2,401
left each month
Trenton
$2,141
−$260 vs Ames
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
−$260 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Ames | Trenton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $6,208 | $8,016 | +$1,807 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,332 | $2,006 | +$674 |
| Take-home pay | $4,877 | $6,010 | +$1,133 |
| Rent | $760 | $1,986 | +$1,226 |
| Getting around | $457 | $438 | −$19 |
| Groceries | $347 | $398 | +$51 |
| Healthcare | $391 | $448 | +$57 |
| Utilities | $217 | $249 | +$32 |
| Everything else | $304 | $349 | +$45 |
| Left over | $2,401 | $2,141 | −$260 |
Salary to match Ames
$101,000
Gross pay in Trenton that leaves the same amount as $74,500 in Ames.
Tax difference
−$1,661
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 21.4% in Ames, 25.0% in Trenton.
More about Trenton
Ames, IA in full
A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $905 and 207 sunny days; commutes average 19 minutes.
Trenton, NJ in full
State income tax topping out at 10.75%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $2,364 and 195 sunny days; commutes average 28 minutes.
The other way
Start in Trenton.
Trenton → Ames →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Trenton than Ames?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Trenton leaves about $260 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $760 in Ames and $1,986 in Trenton.
Does Trenton have state income tax?
Trenton is in New Jersey, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Ames to Trenton?
The paycheck is taxed in New Jersey. Rent stays at the same bedroom count. What you keep is the difference.
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Ames and Trenton changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.
Estimate, not a quote. How we figure this.