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: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,778 in Toms River, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,104 in Austin, TX versus $4,295 in Toms River, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,490 in Austin, TX versus $5,812 in Toms River, NJ.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 2% less than in Toms River, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Toms River, NJ 107% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.36 $19.36

$18.21 $18.21

6.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.7 $73.7

$81.0 $81.0

-9.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 $10.19

$11.45 $11.45

-11.00%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.77 $4.77

19.71%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.38 $2.38

11.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.34 $1.34

63.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$4.97 $4.97

18.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.69 $6.69

20.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.34 $1.34

-18.66%

White Bread (500g)

$3.38 $3.38

$5.24 $5.24

-35.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.38 $2.38

40.34%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$4.63 $4.63

-4.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.87 $11.87

$17.20 $17.20

-30.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.81 $10.81

$16.33 $16.33

-33.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$16.26 $16.26

-12.24%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$5.81 $5.81

-17.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.30 $1.30

18.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$5.13 $5.13

-11.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$6.46 $6.46

-38.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.49 $1.49

91.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.82 $2.82

-1.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.55 $2.55

-23.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.02 $2.02

9.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.07 $9.07

$10.01 $10.01

-9.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$10.16 $10.16

47.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$3.02 $3.02

-24.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.71 $3.71

-8.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.02 $2.02

-26.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.63 $42.63

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.94 $4.94

-12.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.18 $2.18

-18.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.51 $34.51

$41.47 $41.47

-16.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$0.80 $0.80

-6.25%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$35.2K $35.2K

-28.25%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$28.0K $28.0K

-5.05%

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

$176 $176

$183 $183

-3.80%

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

$59.6 $59.6

$29.62 $29.62

101.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$63.5 $63.5

5.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.4 $62.4

$30.21 $30.21

106.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.96 $9.96

Cinema Ticket

$15.04 $15.04

$14.28 $14.28

5.32%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$3,219 $3,219

-56.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$57.5K $57.5K

-61.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$67.5 $67.5

-16.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.71 $46.71

$47.42 $47.42

-1.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$114 $114

-24.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$173 $173

-30.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,174 $2,174

$1,620 $1,620

34.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 $1,439

$1,479 $1,479

-2.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,754 $3,754

$2,823 $2,823

32.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,698 $2,698

$2,780 $2,780

-2.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,033 $7,033

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,113 $3,113

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,081 $5,081

$4,897 $4,897

3.75%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Toms River, NJ: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,174 in Austin, TX and $1,620 in Toms River, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $81.0 in Toms River, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $453 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 2% 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.

Austin, TX pays 4% more on average, 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: $2,174 in Austin, TX versus $1,620 in Toms River, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $3,219 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 $81.0 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 2% less than in Toms River, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.