Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Berkeley Heights, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Berkeley Heights, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,568 in Berkeley Heights, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,851 in Berkeley Heights, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $5,134 in Berkeley Heights, NJ.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 5% more expensive than in Berkeley Heights, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Berkeley Heights, NJ 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$18.69 $18.69

6.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$80.8 $80.8

3.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$12.80 $12.80

-3.91%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$6.36 $6.36

-13.84%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.57 $2.57

44.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.47 $1.47

60.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$8.98 $8.98

-13.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$6.94 $6.94

31.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.31 $1.31

-13.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.48 $4.48

-16.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.99 $5.99

-42.74%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$7.02 $7.02

-38.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$14.04 $14.04

-6.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$10.22 $10.22

40.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$19.71 $19.71

-12.73%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$6.00 $6.00

-25.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$3.57 $3.57

-59.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.24 $4.24

10.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.34 $5.34

-6.93%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$3.02 $3.02

-0.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.64 $3.64

-26.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$3.08 $3.08

-39.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$3.03 $3.03

-28.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$17.61 $17.61

-46.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$14.85 $14.85

1.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.77 $1.77

63.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.52 $3.52

-0.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.28 $2.28

-28.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.04 $3.04

-7.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.13 $2.13

-25.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$42.50 $42.50

-17.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.08 $1.08

-16.67%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$35.3K $35.3K

1.66%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.1K $25.1K

10.08%

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

$222 $222

$173 $173

28.26%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$50.7 $50.7

14.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$49.58 $49.58

39.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$38.78 $38.78

70.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$20.56 $20.56

-32.98%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,724 $1,724

-11.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$16.0K $16.0K

32.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$51.0 $51.0

6.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$41.90 $41.90

5.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$87.7 $87.7

2.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$101 $101

7.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,692 $1,692

14.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,143 $1,143

10.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,394 $2,394

57.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,157 $2,157

20.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,955 $2,955

150.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,075 $2,075

54.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.3

2.22%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Berkeley Heights, NJ: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,692 in Berkeley Heights, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $81.0 in Berkeley Heights, NJ. Groceries flip the comparison at $417 vs $468, 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 Berkeley Heights, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Berkeley Heights, NJ wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Berkeley Heights, NJ the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,042 in Austin, TX and $3,852 in Berkeley Heights, NJ to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,692 in Berkeley Heights, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $1,724 in Berkeley Heights, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Berkeley Heights, NJ – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $84.0 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. Berkeley Heights, 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 Berkeley Heights, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.