Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Rochester, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Rochester, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,259 in Rochester, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,203 in Rochester, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,146 in Rochester, MI.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 18% more expensive than Rochester, MI, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Rochester, MI 69% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$18.02 $18.02

8.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$59.0 $59.0

27.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$10.93 $10.93

-9.24%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$4.71 $4.71

20.38%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.52 $2.52

9.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.56 $1.56

39.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.83 $5.83

0.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$6.96 $6.96

11.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.87 $0.87

25.29%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.29 $3.29

3.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.38 $3.38

1.48%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.20 $3.20

37.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$12.23 $12.23

-2.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$11.90 $11.90

-9.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$11.11 $11.11

28.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.36 $4.36

11.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.36 $1.36

13.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.52 $4.52

-1.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$5.65 $5.65

-30.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.09 $2.09

31.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.18 $2.18

25.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.02 $1.02

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.72 $2.72

-17.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$8.85 $8.85

0.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$14.71 $14.71

0.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.85 $1.85

27.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.63 $3.63

-1.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.97 $1.97

-25.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$4.72 $4.72

-9.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.39 $1.39

32.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$27.85 $27.85

27.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.83 $0.83

-13.25%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$24.4K $24.4K

5.51%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.3K $24.3K

7.70%

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

$174 $174

$120 $120

44.33%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$45.41 $45.41

32.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$60.9 $60.9

8.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$22.64 $22.64

177.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$34.52 $34.52

-71.52%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$9.96 $9.96

53.01%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$953 $953

45.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$20.2K $20.2K

9.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$65.3 $65.3

-13.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$39.87 $39.87

13.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$99.6 $99.6

-13.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$138 $138

-13.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,178 $1,178

90.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,196 $1,196

19.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,237 $2,237

68.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,722 $1,722

53.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$4,262 $4,262

65.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$2,236 $2,236

41.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$5,572 $5,572

-8.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Rochester, MI: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,178 in Rochester, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rochester, MI pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $59.0 in Rochester, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $367 per month, with Rochester, MI 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 Rochester, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rochester, MI wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rochester, MI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Rochester, MI earns 9% less. 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,178 in Rochester, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $953 in Rochester, MI. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Rochester, MI – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,259 in Rochester, MI versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Rochester, MI but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Rochester, MI the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Rochester, MI 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 Rochester, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.