New Jersey’s cannabis market has a reputation for sticker shock, but not all parts of the state are priced the same. For consumers deciding between a run to Atlantic City or a trip to a North Jersey shop, regional gaps are starting to matter almost as much as strain choice.
Statewide, the average ounce of flower at recreational dispensaries is about $320 before tax, with most ounces landing between $200 and $450 depending on quality and promotions, according to November 2025 data compiled by West Orange retailer The Library. Eighths generally fall between $45 and $75. A 2024 national comparison by Cannabis Business Times likewise pegged New Jersey and Connecticut at more than $300 per ounce on average, among the priciest legal markets in the country.
Within the Garden State, though, buyers see differences. A January 2024 analysis from Heady NJ, which tracked more than 60 adult-use menus, flagged Atlantic City and nearby Egg Harbor Township as homes to some of the lowest legal prices in New Jersey. The cheapest ounce on that list was a $149.25 in-house flower ounce at MPX in Atlantic City, followed by a $156 in-house ground ounce at Brute’s Roots in Egg Harbor Township. In North Jersey, the lowest ounce identified was $180 for shake at Hashery in Hackensack, while most eighths statewide were posted at $60 to $75.
In late 2025, that dynamic largely remains: Atlantic City tends to be more aggressive on bulk flower deals, especially on house brands and value tiers, while North Jersey leans toward higher-priced corporate operators near dense, affluent suburbs. Market research from Mosaic Green notes that New Jersey’s average item price remains more than 80% higher than in Massachusetts, which increases the pressure on retailers in North Jersey, where consumers can cross state lines for cheaper menus.
Taxes and fees help explain why prices are elevated everywhere. All adult-use cannabis purchases carry New Jersey’s 6.625% sales tax plus a Social Equity Excise Fee charged to cultivators. Regulators set that fee at $1.24 per ounce based on the 2024 statewide average retail price and voted to raise it to $2.50 per ounce starting January 2025. Although the fee is technically upstream, cultivators and wholesalers recover it through contracts, so it ultimately flows through to retail price tags in both regions.
So who pays less? For tourists and locals willing to shop around, Atlantic City’s edge shows up most clearly on ounces and quarters, where doorbuster specials, loyalty stacking, and weekday promotions can pull per-gram prices below the statewide average. South Jersey operators with sun-grown supply and lower real estate costs have been willing to compete on value, especially during the winter slump.
North Jersey shoppers, by contrast, are more likely to encounter menus anchored around $55 to $70 eighths and $280 to $360 ounces before discounts, based on current pricing from Essex County retailers. Flash sales and medical-patient discounts can narrow the gap, but base prices still sit closer to the top of New Jersey’s statewide range than to the bargain tiers that crop up around Atlantic City.
For now, the comparison breaks down simply. Budget-focused consumers who buy larger quantities and do not mind traveling can find some of the state’s sharpest deals in and around Atlantic City. North Jersey residents may pay a premium for convenience, proximity to New York City, and a dense cluster of stores, even as competition slowly pushes prices lower on both ends of the Turnpike.