🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,358 in Atlantic City, NJ versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,572 in Atlantic City, NJ versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,786 in Atlantic City, NJ versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.
🙂Living in Atlantic City, NJ costs roughly 11% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Atlantic City, NJ76% above, Austin, TX98% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Atlantic City, NJ
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.57$24.57
$19.63$19.63
25.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.9$58.9
$75.1$75.1
-21.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.03$12.03
$9.92$9.92
21.27%
Cappuccino
$5.58$5.58
$5.67$5.67
-1.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77$2.77
$2.77$2.77
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53$2.53
$2.17$2.17
16.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.96$6.96
$5.84$5.84
19.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.24$9.24
$7.77$7.77
18.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Atlantic City, NJ
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22$1.22
$1.09$1.09
11.93%
White Bread(500g)
$4.09$4.09
$3.41$3.41
19.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$7.98$7.98
$3.43$3.43
132.65%
Eggs
$6.29$6.29
$4.39$4.39
43.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.08$17.08
$11.95$11.95
42.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.70$16.70
$10.76$10.76
55.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.95$19.95
$14.29$14.29
39.61%
Apples(1kg)
$4.31$4.31
$4.84$4.84
-10.95%
Banana(1kg)
$2.53$2.53
$1.55$1.55
63.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.69$5.69
$4.46$4.46
27.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.48$6.48
$3.91$3.91
65.73%
Potato(1kg)
$3.73$3.73
$2.74$2.74
36.13%
Onion(1kg)
$4.13$4.13
$2.74$2.74
50.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96$1.96
$2.04$2.04
-3.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.96$1.96
$2.25$2.25
-12.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.33$19.33
$8.93$8.93
116.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.22$15.22
$14.85$14.85
2.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91$2.91
$2.35$2.35
23.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87$3.87
$3.57$3.57
8.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Atlantic City, NJ
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02$2.02
$1.47$1.47
37.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$42.98$42.98
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.02$5.02
$4.28$4.28
17.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.20$2.20
$1.84$1.84
19.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.85$41.85
$35.54$35.54
17.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.88$0.88
$0.72$0.72
22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K$35.2K
$25.7K$25.7K
36.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8K$27.8K
$26.2K$26.2K
6.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Atlantic City, NJ
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$184$184
$174$174
5.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.4$60.4
$60.2$60.2
0.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.2$54.2
$66.3$66.3
-18.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Atlantic City, NJ
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.85$43.85
$62.8$62.8
-30.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$9.83$9.83
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.50$14.50
$15.24$15.24
-4.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Atlantic City, NJ
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$3,123$3,123
$1,387$1,387
125.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.5K$23.5K
$22.2K$22.2K
6.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Atlantic City, NJ
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.25$43.25
$56.7$56.7
-23.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39$39.39
$45.34$45.34
-13.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.6$60.6
$86.5$86.5
-29.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.7$75.7
$119$119
-36.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Atlantic City, NJ
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,374$1,374
$2,247$2,247
-38.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,010$1,010
$1,430$1,430
-29.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012$2,012
$3,778$3,778
-46.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,840$1,840
$2,641$2,641
-30.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,575$3,575
$7,044$7,044
-49.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,571$3,571
$3,162$3,162
12.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Atlantic City, NJ
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,835$4,835
$5,108$5,108
-5.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.44
6.45
-0.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Atlantic City, NJ: May 31, 2026
Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,374 in Atlantic City, NJ and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Austin, TX pays 6% 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: $59.0 in Atlantic City, NJ vs $75.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $500 vs $377, with Austin, TX 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
Atlantic City, NJ vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Atlantic City, NJ and Austin, TX?
Atlantic City, NJ and Austin, TX differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($2,358 vs $2,659 including rent). Atlantic City, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Austin, TX earns 6% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Atlantic City, NJ and Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,374 in Atlantic City, NJ versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Atlantic City, NJ and Austin, TX?
Childcare runs $3,123 in Atlantic City, NJ versus $1,387 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Atlantic City, NJ – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
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.
How does quality of life compare between Atlantic City, NJ and Austin, TX?
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.
Where should expats move: Atlantic City, NJ or Austin, TX?
Expats usually find Atlantic City, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Atlantic City, NJ vs other spots: cost of living compared