Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and West Caldwell, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and West Caldwell, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,657 in West Caldwell, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,954 in West Caldwell, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $5,252 in West Caldwell, NJ.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 1% more expensive than in West Caldwell, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, West Caldwell, NJ 93% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$21.57 $21.57

-8.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$80.8 $80.8

3.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$12.52 $12.52

-1.76%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.28 $5.28

3.79%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.96 $2.96

25.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.30 $2.30

2.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$6.02 $6.02

28.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$8.20 $8.20

11.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.48 $1.48

-23.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.41 $4.41

-14.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$8.26 $8.26

-58.47%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$5.15 $5.15

-15.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$12.23 $12.23

7.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$13.27 $13.27

8.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$17.97 $17.97

-4.28%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.82 $5.82

-22.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.63 $1.63

-11.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$5.19 $5.19

-10.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.31 $5.31

-6.40%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.86 $2.86

4.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.15 $3.15

-14.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.40 $2.40

-22.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.39 $2.39

-8.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$12.92 $12.92

-26.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$15.25 $15.25

-0.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.32 $2.32

24.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$4.41 $4.41

-20.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.84 $1.84

-10.87%

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

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$24.09 $24.09

46.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.07 $1.07

-15.89%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$37.2K $37.2K

-3.45%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.5K $25.5K

8.37%

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

$222 $222

$220 $220

0.80%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$64.4 $64.4

-9.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$69.0 $69.0

0.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$39.55 $39.55

67.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$14.80 $14.80

-6.89%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$2,238 $2,238

-31.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$41.9K $41.9K

-49.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$49.39 $49.39

10.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$46.47 $46.47

-5.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$99.4 $99.4

-9.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$138 $138

-21.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,568 $1,568

23.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,372 $1,372

-8.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,316 $2,316

62.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,131 $2,131

21.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,734 $2,734

170.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,200 $2,200

45.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$3,039 $3,039

67.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.16

4.55%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for West Caldwell, NJ: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,568 in West Caldwell, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 67% 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 $81.0 in West Caldwell, NJ. Groceries flip the comparison at $417 vs $460, 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 West Caldwell, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

West Caldwell, 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 West Caldwell, NJ the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 67% 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 $1,568 in West Caldwell, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $2,238 in West Caldwell, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in West Caldwell, NJ – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. West Caldwell, 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 West Caldwell, 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 West Caldwell, 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.