$650,000 buys the median home in Jersey City right now. With 20% down, that's a $130,000 down payment and a $520,000 loan, set against a $82,000 median household income.
Property taxes in Jersey City run 1.97% of assessed value, above the 1.1% national average. On the median home, that's $12,805 a year, or $1,067 added to the monthly payment.
Between the $4,726/month mortgage payment and New Jersey's state income tax, your real housing cost calculation needs your after-tax number, not your gross salary.
Beyond housing, Jersey City's cost of living index sits at 145 (national average = 100), running above the national baseline for groceries, transportation, and everyday services.
Jersey City's median home price runs 57% higher than nearby Newark: $415,000 there versus $650,000 here.