Vacationers are catching a break this summer. The average price of a Jersey Shore trip in 2025 saw prices decrease an average of 5%, according to research from Affinity Federal Credit Union (“Affinity”).
Affinity says the drop in costs is a reversal of three years of price increases in the annual vacation index, which the credit union has been tracking since the 2022 summer season.
Collected in spring 2025, this year’s data revealed flat or decreased prices across various categories related to a memorable shore experience.
Food and drink saw no change, while leisure activities, including mini-golf, aquarium admission and a sunset cruise, had an 8.59% decrease. Beach services, such as tags, sunblock, and chair and umbrella rentals, also decreased by 5.33%, mirroring travel costs, which fell 6.49%, a striking change from last year’s 11.58% increase. The survey’s full findings can be found on the Day at the Shore landing page on Affinity’s website.
“Vacationers have been feeling the squeeze of inflation for years, so it’s a pleasant surprise to see costs on the decline,” Grant Gallagher, director, Financial Wellbeing and Brand Communications at Affinity said. “We’ve observed significant price hikes from businesses for both goods and services in the past three years, and the reversal could mean businesses are trying to attract consumers that might have been feeling priced out of their annual shore trip. We will continue to keep a close eye on price fluctuations, particularly as the economic climate responds to ongoing discourse around tariffs.”
Vacation-specific price declines provide a welcome relief for families, but there is still increased pressure on family finances across the board.
This research was conducted via a May 2025 survey of New Jersey shore town businesses and compared to products and services surveyed in summer 2024. Businesses or goods included in the research are not endorsed by our members of Affinity Federal Credit Union.
