Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Castle Rock, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Castle Rock, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $1,252 in Castle Rock, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $1,966 in Castle Rock, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $2,679 in Castle Rock, CO.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 115% more expensive than in Castle Rock, CO, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 96% above, Castle Rock, CO is 9% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$17.91 $17.91

10.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$78.5 $78.5

6.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$9.37 $9.37

31.27%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.44 $5.44

0.74%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.44 $2.44

52.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.89 $1.89

24.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$7.09 $7.09

9.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$6.05 $6.05

51.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.00 $1.00

13.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.98 $2.98

25.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.83 $2.83

21.20%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$4.38 $4.38

-0.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$11.16 $11.16

17.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$10.28 $10.28

39.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$20.75 $20.75

-17.11%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.18 $5.18

-13.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.39 $1.39

3.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$3.75 $3.75

24.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.14 $5.14

-3.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.87 $2.87

4.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.30 $3.30

-18.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.26 $1.26

46.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.70 $1.70

28.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$10.11 $10.11

-6.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$12.09 $12.09

24.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.58 $2.58

12.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.69 $2.69

29.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.51 $2.51

11.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.83 $1.83

-13.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$25.10 $25.10

40.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.79 $0.79

13.92%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$35.1K $35.1K

2.29%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.2K $25.2K

9.56%

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

$222 $222

$217 $217

2.21%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$39.22 $39.22

48.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$69.5 $69.5

-0.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$60.6 $60.6

9.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$12.22 $12.22

12.77%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,316 $1,316

16.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$17.8K $17.8K

19.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$54.3 $54.3

0.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$50.4 $50.4

-12.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$80.1 $80.1

12.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$117 $117

-6.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,706 $1,706

13.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$5,850 $5,850

-13.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.08

5.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Castle Rock, CO: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,706 in Castle Rock, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Castle Rock, CO pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $78.0 in Castle Rock, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $374 per month, with Castle Rock, CO cheaper across the board.

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 Castle Rock, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Castle Rock, CO wins on cost – living expenses run 115% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Castle Rock, CO the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 15% lower in Castle Rock, CO. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,706 in Castle Rock, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $1,316 in Castle Rock, CO. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Castle Rock, CO – a meal for two runs $78.0 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 $3,000. Castle Rock, CO 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 Castle Rock, CO 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 Castle Rock, CO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 115% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.