Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and East Rutherford, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and East Rutherford, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,289 in East Rutherford, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,812 in East Rutherford, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $5,334 in East Rutherford, NJ.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 18% more expensive than in East Rutherford, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, East Rutherford, NJ 67% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$21.85 $21.85

-9.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$100 $100

-16.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$10.82 $10.82

13.68%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.42 $5.42

1.11%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.14 $2.14

73.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.97 $1.97

19.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$6.08 $6.08

27.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$6.94 $6.94

31.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.27 $1.27

-11.02%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.92 $3.92

-4.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$7.78 $7.78

-55.91%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$5.18 $5.18

-16.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$12.22 $12.22

7.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$11.82 $11.82

21.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$16.32 $16.32

5.39%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.28 $5.28

-14.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.70 $1.70

-15.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$5.02 $5.02

-6.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.83 $4.83

2.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.71 $2.71

10.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.20 $3.20

-15.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.45 $2.45

-24.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.49 $2.49

-12.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$13.09 $13.09

-27.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$23.59 $23.59

-35.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.78 $1.78

62.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$4.29 $4.29

-18.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.04 $2.04

-19.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.73 $2.73

2.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.60 $1.60

-1.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$24.32 $24.32

44.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.01 $1.01

-10.89%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$36.5K $36.5K

-1.84%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.2K $25.2K

9.63%

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

$222 $222

$207 $207

7.40%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$65.1 $65.1

-10.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$69.6 $69.6

-0.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$41.29 $41.29

60.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$14.95 $14.95

-7.83%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$2,229 $2,229

-31.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$23.5K $23.5K

-9.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$41.70 $41.70

30.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$47.35 $47.35

-7.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$77.4 $77.4

16.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$156 $156

-30.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,090 $1,090

78.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$946 $946

33.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,754 $2,754

36.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,331 $2,331

11.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,788 $2,788

165.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,380 $2,380

34.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$5,012 $5,012

1.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.24

3.21%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for East Rutherford, NJ: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,090 in East Rutherford, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 1% 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: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $100 in East Rutherford, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $448 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

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 East Rutherford, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

East Rutherford, NJ wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making East Rutherford, NJ the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 1% higher in Austin, TX, 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: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,090 in East Rutherford, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $2,229 in East Rutherford, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in East Rutherford, NJ – a meal for two runs $100 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,289 in East Rutherford, NJ versus $2,695 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in East Rutherford, NJ but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes East Rutherford, NJ the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 East Rutherford, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.