Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Toms River, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Toms River, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,657 in Austin, TX versus $2,797 in Toms River, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $4,301 in Toms River, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,546 in Austin, TX versus $5,805 in Toms River, NJ.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 5% less than in Toms River, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Toms River, NJ 109% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.85 $19.85

$18.48 $18.48

7.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$79.7 $79.7

-6.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.03 $10.03

$11.09 $11.09

-9.56%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$4.85 $4.85

13.81%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.37 $2.37

17.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.33 $1.33

57.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.08 $5.08

18.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.81 $7.81

$6.46 $6.46

20.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.33 $1.33

-15.04%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 $3.45

$5.00 $5.00

-31.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.39 $2.39

43.10%

Eggs

$4.37 $4.37

$4.72 $4.72

-7.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 $12.24

$17.25 $17.25

-29.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.79 $10.79

$16.58 $16.58

-34.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 $14.36

$16.68 $16.68

-13.91%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$5.85 $5.85

-14.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.29 $1.29

17.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$5.26 $5.26

-16.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$6.53 $6.53

-39.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.50 $1.50

82.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.82 $2.82

-1.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.42 $2.42

-18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.04 $2.04

11.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.74 $8.74

$9.85 $9.85

-11.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$9.95 $9.95

48.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$3.00 $3.00

-24.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.68 $3.68

-2.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.94 $1.94

-20.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.09 $43.09

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.45 $4.45

$4.92 $4.92

-9.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.12 $2.12

-14.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$42.12 $42.12

-16.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.80 $0.80

-7.50%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$35.4K $35.4K

-27.91%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$27.4K $27.4K

-3.65%

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

$170 $170

$180 $180

-5.63%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$30.09 $30.09

100.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$62.3 $62.3

7.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 $61.6

$29.93 $29.93

105.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.14 $15.14

$14.22 $14.22

6.47%

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

$1,381 $1,381

$3,203 $3,203

-56.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$57.1K $57.1K

-61.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$65.7 $65.7

-13.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.94 $45.94

$48.83 $48.83

-5.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$112 $112

-23.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$168 $168

-28.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$1,671 $1,671

30.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,417 $1,417

$1,496 $1,496

-5.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,801 $3,801

$2,801 $2,801

35.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,711 $2,711

$2,817 $2,817

-3.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,204 $7,204

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,239 $3,239

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,914 $4,914

$4,960 $4,960

-0.93%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Toms River, NJ: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,183 in Austin, TX and $1,671 in Toms River, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toms River, NJ 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $80.0 in Toms River, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $454 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 Toms River, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

On paper, Toms River, NJ earns 1% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,183 in Austin, TX versus $1,671 in Toms River, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,381 in Austin, TX versus $3,203 in Toms River, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $80.0 in Toms River, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX 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 Toms River, 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Toms River, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.