I swear by google maps too, but when you're talking about driving in the city those times are not accurate. You invariably hit traffic or other delays, then will have to find parking, which can take a long time. I think if you're considering living in Jersey purely out of cost, you can't just look at the rents side by side. Take all the associated costs of commuting into account - if you live in the city, you can eliminate entirely the cost of gas, car insurance, car upkeep, parking, but will obviously have to tack on a metro fee. As two thirty mentioned, I think you'll find the costs are not all that different, and the difference is not worth the hassle of a long commute each day. If I were moving to the city, I'd opt to live in one of the boroughs and ride my bike to school 8 months out of the year.
