Cost of Living Comparison Between Aliso Viejo, CA and Atlantic City, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Aliso Viejo, CA and Atlantic City, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,813 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $2,337 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $3,628 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,265 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $4,920 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Living in Aliso Viejo, CA is roughly 63% more expensive than in Atlantic City, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Aliso Viejo, CA 185% above, Atlantic City, NJ 75% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.06 $25.06

$25.12 $25.12

-0.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.4 $99.4

$59.0 $59.0

68.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.07 $11.07

$12.41 $12.41

-10.80%

Cappuccino

$5.57 $5.57

$5.36 $5.36

3.92%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.79 $2.79

2.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.51 $2.51

-10.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.65 $8.65

$6.98 $6.98

23.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.92 $8.92

$9.16 $9.16

-2.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.16 $1.16

2.59%

White Bread (500g)

$4.31 $4.31

$4.00 $4.00

7.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$8.19 $8.19

-44.20%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$6.27 $6.27

-29.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.35 $12.35

$17.39 $17.39

-28.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.74 $11.74

$16.20 $16.20

-27.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 $14.30

$20.15 $20.15

-29.03%

Apples (1kg)

$6.54 $6.54

$4.49 $4.49

45.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.42 $2.42

-21.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$5.88 $5.88

-35.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$6.46 $6.46

-24.61%

Potato (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.69 $3.69

-17.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$4.11 $4.11

-40.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.03 $2.03

-5.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.95 $1.95

6.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.52 $10.52

$19.32 $19.32

-45.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$14.77 $14.77

2.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$3.04 $3.04

-39.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.81 $3.81

-17.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.05 $2.05

44.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.84 $4.84

-17.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.23 $2.23

-6.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$41.52 $41.52

-28.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$0.83 $0.83

55.42%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.1K $28.1K

$35.5K $35.5K

-20.78%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K $26.5K

$27.6K $27.6K

-3.92%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$183 $183

$184 $184

-0.69%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$55.4 $55.4

$59.7 $59.7

-7.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.6 $70.6

$54.0 $54.0

30.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.32 $49.32

$42.63 $42.63

15.69%

Cinema Ticket

$18.21 $18.21

$14.18 $14.18

28.42%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,786 $1,786

$3,192 $3,192

-44.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K $24.0K

$23.4K $23.4K

2.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 $61.7

$42.82 $42.82

44.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.37 $46.37

$39.89 $39.89

16.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$60.3 $60.3

67.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$151 $151

$74.0 $74.0

104.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,847 $2,847

$1,416 $1,416

101.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,523 $2,523

$1,017 $1,017

148.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,134 $4,134

$2,025 $2,025

104.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,160 $4,160

$1,865 $1,865

122.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,973 $6,973

$3,664 $3,664

90.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,462 $6,462

$3,603 $3,603

79.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,045 $8,045

$4,129 $4,129

94.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.44

0.78%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Aliso Viejo, CA: July 21, 2026

Last update for Atlantic City, NJ: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,847 in Aliso Viejo, CA and $1,416 in Atlantic City, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aliso Viejo, CA pays 95% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $99.0 in Aliso Viejo, CA vs $59.0 in Atlantic City, NJ. Groceries flip the comparison at $405 vs $499, with Aliso Viejo, CA cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Aliso Viejo, CA vs Atlantic City, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aliso Viejo, CA and Atlantic City, NJ differ by about 63% in total monthly costs ($3,813 vs $2,337 including rent). Atlantic City, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 95% higher in Aliso Viejo, CA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,847 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $1,416 in Atlantic City, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Aliso Viejo, CA pay roughly 23% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $3,813 per month in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $2,337 in Atlantic City, NJ – a 63% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Atlantic City, NJ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Aliso Viejo, CA and Atlantic City, NJ are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Atlantic City, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Aliso Viejo, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.