Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Mount Laurel, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Mount Laurel, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $2,666 in Mount Laurel, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $3,840 in Mount Laurel, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $5,015 in Mount Laurel, NJ.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 1% more expensive than in Mount Laurel, NJ, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Mount Laurel, NJ 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$16.87 $16.87

18.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$91.6 $91.6

-18.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$12.04 $12.04

-18.19%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$4.84 $4.84

19.63%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.66 $2.66

3.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.99 $1.99

9.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$2.94 $2.94

103.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$5.93 $5.93

36.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.36 $1.36

-19.12%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.84 $2.84

15.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$5.42 $5.42

-37.82%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$4.09 $4.09

5.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$13.19 $13.19

-8.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$6.46 $6.46

63.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$13.14 $13.14

11.04%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$6.02 $6.02

-16.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.61 $1.61

-2.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.39 $4.39

-0.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.53 $4.53

-10.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.17 $2.17

27.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.90 $2.90

-2.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$3.09 $3.09

-36.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.55 $2.55

-12.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$11.97 $11.97

-26.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$14.85 $14.85

-0.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.01 $2.01

16.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$4.27 $4.27

-18.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.06 $2.06

-26.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$2.98 $2.98

44.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.53 $1.53

17.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$22.22 $22.22

58.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.93 $0.93

-13.98%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$27.5K $27.5K

-6.49%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.6K $25.6K

4.81%

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

$173 $173

$274 $274

-36.73%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$62.6 $62.6

-6.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$55.1 $55.1

21.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$43.33 $43.33

42.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$15.17 $15.17

-2.44%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$2,065 $2,065

-31.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$23.2K $23.2K

-4.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$51.2 $51.2

7.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$41.75 $41.75

11.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$92.4 $92.4

-5.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$143 $143

-16.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,609 $1,609

36.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,364 $1,364

4.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$2,661 $2,661

41.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$2,244 $2,244

20.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$2,871 $2,871

155.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,528 $2,528

24.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.68

-3.44%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Mount Laurel, NJ: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $1,609 in Mount Laurel, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $92.0 in Mount Laurel, NJ. Groceries flip the comparison at $376 vs $375, with Mount Laurel, NJ 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 Mount Laurel, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mount Laurel, NJ wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mount Laurel, NJ the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,052 in Austin, TX and $3,999 in Mount Laurel, 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: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $1,609 in Mount Laurel, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,414 in Austin, TX versus $2,065 in Mount Laurel, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Mount Laurel, NJ – a meal for two runs $92.0 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Mount Laurel, 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, Austin, TX and Mount Laurel, 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 Mount Laurel, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.