Avondale, PA vs Island Heights, NJ: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Island Heights, NJ has a modeled overall cost index 53.3% higher than Avondale, PA.

Avondale, PA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,820 / month
Island Heights, NJ · modeled 2BR rent
$2,230 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Avondale, PA and Island Heights, NJ using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $4,310/month in Island Heights, NJ

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $201,717 in Island Heights, NJ

Regional cost estimates: Avondale, PA uses Philadelphia, PA. Island Heights, NJ uses New York, NY. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 53.3%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$4,310
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$51.7K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Avondale, PA

Population:1K
Cost Index:
85.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$592K

Island Heights, NJ

Population:2K
Cost Index:
131.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$631K

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Avondale, PA

The Keystone State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Island Heights, NJ

The Garden State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in New Jersey, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Avondale, PA vs Island Heights, NJ

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 205.3%
Avondale, PA
$2,003
Island Heights, NJ
$6,115
Difference
$4,112
more
Other
↑ 5.8%
Avondale, PA
$1,707
Island Heights, NJ
$1,807
Difference
$99.76
more
Transportation
↑ 4.2%
Avondale, PA
$1,367
Island Heights, NJ
$1,423
Difference
$56.72
more
Healthcare
↑ 8.8%
Avondale, PA
$635
Island Heights, NJ
$691
Difference
$56.13
more
All Utilities
↓ 4.9%
Avondale, PA
$634
Island Heights, NJ
$603
Difference
$31.36
less
Groceries
↑ 1.4%
Avondale, PA
$1,154
Island Heights, NJ
$1,171
Difference
$16.15
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,400
To$1,610
↑ $210
1 Bed
From$1,530
To$1,810
↑ $280
2 Bed
From$1,820
To$2,230
↑ $410
3 Bed
From$2,180
To$2,920
↑ $740
Avondale, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,530–$1,530/mo

Island Heights, NJZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,810–$1,810/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Avondale, PA
$11,810
Monthly in Island Heights, NJ
$4,310
Difference

Home Values

Avondale
Island Heights
$592K
Median Value
$631K
↑ +2.6%
YoY Change
↑ +4.1%
↑ +42.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +54.4%

Homes in Island Heights are 6% more expensive than Avondale

Calculate payment - AvondaleCalculate payment - Island Heights

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $2.8K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$235
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.9%
Rate difference

Avondale, PA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Pennsylvania State Tax
Effective: 3.1%
$4.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.7%
$41.6K
Take-Home Pay
$9,032/month
$108.4K

Island Heights, NJ

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
New Jersey State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.6%
$44.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,796/month
$105.6K

Additional Tax Information

Avondale, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%
Property Tax:1.4%

Island Heights, NJ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.6%
Property Tax:2.5%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Avondale
Island Heights
52 Moderate
Air Quality
43 Good
47.3%
Good Air Days
65.8%
100 Very High
Climate Risk
99 High
🌊🌅🌀
Top Hazards
🌊🌀🌡
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.7°F
22 days
Heat Days >95°F
11 days
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.7°F
22 days
Heat Days >95°F
11 days

Before moving from Avondale, PA to Island Heights, NJ

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Island Heights, NJ for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Avondale, PA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Avondale to Island Heights moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Island Heights, NJ by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Avondale, PA vs Island Heights, NJ

How do the cost estimates for Avondale, PA and Island Heights, NJ compare?

Island Heights, NJ has a modeled overall cost index 53.3% higher than Avondale, PA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Avondale, PA, the model estimates $201,717 in Island Heights, NJ. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Avondale, PA and Island Heights, NJ?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,820/month in Avondale, PA and $2,230/month in Island Heights, NJ. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Pennsylvania and New Jersey on TaxTakeHome.com

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