Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and North Brunswick, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and North Brunswick, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,582 in North Brunswick, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,782 in North Brunswick, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $4,981 in North Brunswick, NJ.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 5% more expensive than North Brunswick, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, North Brunswick, NJ 93% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$19.18 $19.18

4.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$73.8 $73.8

3.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$10.91 $10.91

-7.15%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.96 $4.96

10.69%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.47 $2.47

10.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.05 $2.05

4.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.87 $5.87

3.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$7.11 $7.11

13.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.00 $1.00

9.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.59 $3.59

-6.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.27 $4.27

-19.91%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.11 $4.11

5.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$12.08 $12.08

-2.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$11.34 $11.34

-5.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$15.65 $15.65

-7.35%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.98 $4.98

-3.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.58 $1.58

-5.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.20 $4.20

7.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.66 $4.66

-13.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.86 $2.86

-3.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.78 $2.78

0.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.11 $2.11

1.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$9.69 $9.69

-4.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$15.45 $15.45

-4.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.77 $1.77

29.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.28 $3.28

7.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.94 $1.94

-21.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$3.40 $3.40

26.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.65 $1.65

10.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$29.65 $29.65

19.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.91 $0.91

-15.38%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$29.3K $29.3K

-12.53%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.6K $25.6K

2.71%

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

$172 $172

$191 $191

-9.77%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$52.0 $52.0

16.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$68.6 $68.6

-2.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$43.22 $43.22

45.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$13.73 $13.73

7.28%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,310 $1,310

6.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$23.4K $23.4K

-6.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$50.5 $50.5

9.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$40.23 $40.23

13.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$86.1 $86.1

0.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$111 $111

3.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,630 $1,630

37.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,365 $1,365

2.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,645 $2,645

43.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,259 $2,259

19.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,635 $2,635

177.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,492 $2,492

33.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.51

-0.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for North Brunswick, NJ: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,630 in North Brunswick, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $74 in North Brunswick, NJ. Groceries flip the comparison at $375 vs $388, 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 North Brunswick, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

North Brunswick, 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 North Brunswick, NJ the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,079 in Austin, TX and $3,874 in North Brunswick, 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: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,630 in North Brunswick, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $1,310 in North Brunswick, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in North Brunswick, NJ – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $76.0 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. North Brunswick, 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 North Brunswick, 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 North Brunswick, 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.