Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Toms River, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Toms River, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,415 per month in New York, NY vs $2,753 in Toms River, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,980 per month in New York, NY vs $4,222 in Toms River, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,544 per month in New York, NY vs $5,691 in Toms River, NJ, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 60% more than Toms River, NJ, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both New York, NY and Toms River, NJ sit above the global median – New York, NY by 230%, Toms River, NJ by 106%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.48 $29.48

$18.13 $18.13

62.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$81.2 $81.2

76.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.41 $12.41

$11.47 $11.47

8.20%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$4.92 $4.92

23.58%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$2.38 $2.38

39.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.33 $1.33

103.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.17 $8.17

$4.87 $4.87

67.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.04 $12.04

$6.59 $6.59

82.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.35 $1.35

20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.08 $5.08

$5.04 $5.04

0.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.12 $8.12

$2.35 $2.35

245.53%

Eggs

$6.87 $6.87

$4.64 $4.64

48.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$17.48 $17.48

0.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$16.21 $16.21

1.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.81 $19.81

$16.78 $16.78

18.06%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 $7.66

$5.78 $5.78

32.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.35 $1.35

87.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$5.15 $5.15

8.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$6.21 $6.21

3.06%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$1.52 $1.52

152.63%

Onion (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.71 $2.71

51.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.56 $2.56

20.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.97 $1.97

26.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.83 $18.83

$10.18 $10.18

84.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$10.21 $10.21

92.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.91 $2.91

2.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.72 $3.72

0.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.05 $2.05

43.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 $5.05

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.22 $2.22

-0.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.75 $42.75

$41.97 $41.97

1.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.79 $0.79

22.78%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$34.8K $34.8K

0.62%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$27.5K $27.5K

3.05%

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

$182 $182

$185 $185

-1.53%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$30.25 $30.25

99.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 $63.5

$62.1 $62.1

2.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$29.56 $29.56

382.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 $63.6

Cinema Ticket

$19.89 $19.89

$14.73 $14.73

35.03%

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

$3,129 $3,129

$3,103 $3,103

0.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$58.2K $58.2K

$56.3K $56.3K

3.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$67.8 $67.8

-0.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$47.19 $47.19

0.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$111 $111

1.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$171 $171

1.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,145 $4,145

$1,637 $1,637

153.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,523 $1,523

76.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,255 $8,255

$2,842 $2,842

190.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,298 $5,298

$2,806 $2,806

88.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.5K $18.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,505 $6,505

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,520 $5,520

$4,799 $4,799

15.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

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

Last update for New York, NY: July 13, 2026

Last update for Toms River, NJ: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,145 in New York, NY versus $1,637 in Toms River, NJ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 15% higher in New York, NY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $143 in New York, NY versus $81.0 in Toms River, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $553 vs $451 – making Toms River, NJ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

New York, NY vs Toms River, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 60% more than Toms River, NJ, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,623 per month in New York, NY and $4,130 in Toms River, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Toms River, NJ, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,415 in New York, NY and $2,753 in Toms River, NJ. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,129 per month in New York, NY and $3,103 in Toms River, NJ. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,415 in New York, NY and $2,753 in Toms River, NJ. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Toms River, NJ costs $2,753 versus $4,415 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Toms River, NJ. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.