Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Atlantic City, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Atlantic City, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,358 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,572 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,786 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 13% more expensive than Atlantic City, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Atlantic City, NJ 76% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$24.57 $24.57

-20.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$58.9 $58.9

27.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$12.03 $12.03

-17.54%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.58 $5.58

1.61%

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

$2.77 $2.77

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.53 $2.53

-14.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.96 $6.96

-16.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$9.24 $9.24

-15.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.22 $1.22

-10.66%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$4.09 $4.09

-16.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$7.98 $7.98

-57.02%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$6.29 $6.29

-30.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$17.08 $17.08

-30.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$16.70 $16.70

-35.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$19.95 $19.95

-28.37%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.31 $4.31

12.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$2.53 $2.53

-38.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$5.69 $5.69

-21.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$6.48 $6.48

-39.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.73 $3.73

-26.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.13 $4.13

-33.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.96 $1.96

4.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.96 $1.96

14.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$19.33 $19.33

-53.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$15.22 $15.22

-2.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.91 $2.91

-19.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.87 $3.87

-7.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.02 $2.02

-27.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$5.02 $5.02

-14.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.20 $2.20

-16.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$41.85 $41.85

-15.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.88 $0.88

-18.18%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$35.2K $35.2K

-27.00%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.8K $27.8K

-5.97%

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

$174 $174

$184 $184

-5.52%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$60.4 $60.4

-0.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$54.2 $54.2

22.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$43.85 $43.85

43.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$14.50 $14.50

5.10%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$3,123 $3,123

-55.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$23.5K $23.5K

-5.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$43.25 $43.25

31.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$39.39 $39.39

15.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$60.6 $60.6

42.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$75.7 $75.7

57.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,374 $1,374

63.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,010 $1,010

41.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,012 $2,012

87.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,840 $1,840

43.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$3,575 $3,575

97.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$3,571 $3,571

-11.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$4,835 $4,835

5.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.44

0.16%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Atlantic City, NJ: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,374 in Atlantic City, NJ. 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: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $59.0 in Atlantic City, NJ. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $500, 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

Austin, TX vs Atlantic City, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX and Atlantic City, NJ differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($2,659 vs $2,358 including rent). Atlantic City, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Austin, TX pays 6% more on average, 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,374 in Atlantic City, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $3,123 in Atlantic City, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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.

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.

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.