Median rent is 7% lower in Austin ($1,655/mo vs $1,783/mo). Buying is cheaper in Austin, where the median home runs $512,700 versus $577,200. Households earn more in Cliffside Park ($94,960 vs $91,461 a year).
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Cliffside Park, NJ
How much would you need to earn in Cliffside Park, NJ to maintain your standard of living from Austin, TX?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Austin
Texas
Cliffside Park
New Jersey
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Austin at $1,655/mo compared to $1,783/mo in Cliffside Park (7% gap). Median home values are within 11% of each other: $512,700 in Austin and $577,200 in Cliffside Park.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Texas has no state income tax, while New Jersey tops out at 10.75% — giving Austin a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 6.25% in Texas and 6.63% in New Jersey; Austin has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Austin
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.25%
Cliffside Park
Income tax: 10.75%
Sales tax: 6.63%
Air quality data is available for Austin (avg AQI 47.0) but not yet for Cliffside Park.
Pick Austin if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is Austin cheaper than Cliffside Park?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Austin vs Cliffside Park?
Median rent is $1,655/mo in Austin, TX and $1,783/mo in Cliffside Park, NJ. Austin, TX has the lower rent by about 7%.
Which has higher salaries — Austin or Cliffside Park?
Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $94,960 in Cliffside Park, NJ. Cliffside Park, NJ has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Austin or Cliffside Park?
Texas has no state income tax. New Jersey has a top rate of 10.75%.
What salary do I need in Cliffside Park to match my Austin income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology