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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,870 in Rochester, MN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $4,053 in Rochester, MN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $5,236 in Rochester, MN.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 5% less than in Rochester, MN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Rochester, MN 114% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$16.12 $16.12

24.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$76.1 $76.1

0.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$11.09 $11.09

-8.66%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$6.21 $6.21

-11.59%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.63 $2.63

3.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.30 $2.30

-6.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$4.86 $4.86

24.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$6.97 $6.97

15.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.95 $0.95

14.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.46 $2.46

35.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.23 $2.23

53.36%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.68 $3.68

17.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$12.69 $12.69

-7.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$11.80 $11.80

-9.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$16.71 $16.71

-13.23%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.58 $4.58

4.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.55 $1.55

-3.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.77 $3.77

19.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.45 $3.45

17.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.01 $2.01

37.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.04 $3.04

-8.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$3.04 $3.04

-32.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$3.06 $3.06

-29.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$9.04 $9.04

2.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$14.87 $14.87

-0.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.78 $1.78

28.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.06 $3.06

15.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.94 $1.94

-21.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

$41.95 $41.95

4.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$1.98 $1.98

116.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.14 $2.14

-14.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$20.33 $20.33

74.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.83 $0.83

-7.23%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

0.10%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$24.3K $24.3K

8.39%

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

$172 $172

$128 $128

34.04%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$50.7 $50.7

18.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$61.3 $61.3

9.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$69.4 $69.4

-9.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$12.45 $12.45

18.31%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,367 $1,367

2.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$11.7K $11.7K

86.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$64.4 $64.4

-14.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$63.5 $63.5

-28.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$71.7 $71.7

21.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$83.4 $83.4

38.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,454 $1,454

54.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,659 $1,659

-15.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,038 $2,038

85.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,674 $2,674

1.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,061 $2,061

254.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,090 $2,090

59.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$4,671 $4,671

5.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.4

0.78%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Rochester, MN: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,454 in Rochester, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $76 in Rochester, MN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $375 per month, with Austin, TX 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, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Rochester, MN. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 5% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,454 in Rochester, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,719 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,870 in Rochester, MN – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 4% less than in Rochester, MN. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,870 in Rochester, MN, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Austin, TX but tight or insufficient in Rochester, MN. The gap between the two cities makes Austin, TX 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.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Rochester, MN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.