Island Heights, NJ vs Bryn Athyn, PA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Bryn Athyn, PA has a modeled overall cost index 34.5% lower than Island Heights, NJ.

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

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Estimated savings: $2,721/month in Bryn Athyn, PA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $117,347 in Bryn Athyn, PA

Regional cost estimates: Island Heights, NJ uses New York, NY. Bryn Athyn, PA uses Philadelphia, PA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 34.5%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$2,721
Savings
Annual Impact
$32.7K
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.

Island Heights, NJ

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

Bryn Athyn, PA

Population:1K
Cost Index:
86.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$684K

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Island Heights, NJ

The Garden State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Bryn Athyn, PA

The Keystone State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Island Heights, NJ vs Bryn Athyn, PA

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
↓ 67.1%
Island Heights, NJ
$3,883
Bryn Athyn, PA
$1,277
Difference
$2,607
less
Other
↓ 5.1%
Island Heights, NJ
$1,148
Bryn Athyn, PA
$1,088
Difference
$59.05
less
Healthcare
↓ 7.9%
Island Heights, NJ
$439
Bryn Athyn, PA
$404
Difference
$34.85
less
Transportation
↓ 3.6%
Island Heights, NJ
$904
Bryn Athyn, PA
$871
Difference
$32.57
less
All Utilities
↑ 5.4%
Island Heights, NJ
$383
Bryn Athyn, PA
$404
Difference
$20.71
more
Groceries
↓ 1.2%
Island Heights, NJ
$743
Bryn Athyn, PA
$735
Difference
$8.80
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,610
To$1,400
↓ $210
1 Bed
From$1,810
To$1,530
↓ $280
2 Bed
From$2,230
To$1,820
↓ $410
3 Bed
From$2,920
To$2,180
↓ $740
Island Heights, NJZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,810–$1,810/mo

Bryn Athyn, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,530–$1,530/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 Island Heights, NJ
$4,779
Monthly in Bryn Athyn, PA
$2,721
Difference

Home Values

Island Heights
Bryn Athyn
$631K
Median Value
$684K
↑ +4.1%
YoY Change
↑ +2.4%
↑ +54.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +39.1%

Homes in Bryn Athyn are 9% more expensive than Island Heights

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $2.8K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$235
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.9%
Rate difference

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

Bryn Athyn, 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

Additional Tax Information

Island Heights, NJ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.6%
Property Tax:2.5%

Bryn Athyn, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%
Property Tax:1.4%

💡 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

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

Before moving from Island Heights, NJ to Bryn Athyn, PA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Bryn Athyn, PA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Island Heights, NJ. 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 Island Heights to Bryn Athyn moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Bryn Athyn, PA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Island Heights, NJ vs Bryn Athyn, PA

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

Bryn Athyn, PA has a modeled overall cost index 34.5% lower than Island Heights, NJ. 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 Island Heights, NJ, the model estimates $117,347 in Bryn Athyn, PA. 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 Island Heights, NJ and Bryn Athyn, PA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,230/month in Island Heights, NJ and $1,820/month in Bryn Athyn, PA. 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 New Jersey and Pennsylvania on TaxTakeHome.com

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