Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Rock Springs, WY Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Rock Springs, WY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,585 in Rock Springs, WY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,837 in Rock Springs, WY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $5,089 in Rock Springs, WY.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 5% more expensive than Rock Springs, WY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Rock Springs, WY 93% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$18.28 $18.28

9.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$82.4 $82.4

-7.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$11.21 $11.21

-9.63%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.11 $5.11

7.44%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.32 $2.32

17.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.76 $1.76

21.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.88 $5.88

3.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$7.72 $7.72

4.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.95 $0.95

14.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.30 $3.30

1.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.90 $3.90

-12.31%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.42 $4.42

-2.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$12.56 $12.56

-6.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$10.15 $10.15

5.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$16.60 $16.60

-12.65%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.25 $5.25

-8.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$2.08 $2.08

-27.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.56 $3.56

26.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.66 $4.66

-13.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.61 $2.61

5.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.61 $2.61

6.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.90 $1.90

7.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.89 $1.89

13.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$8.88 $8.88

3.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$15.38 $15.38

-3.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.01 $2.01

13.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.50 $2.50

41.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.03 $2.03

-25.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.44 $2.44

75.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.41 $1.41

29.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$24.65 $24.65

44.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.01 $1.01

-23.76%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$24.7K $24.7K

3.68%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

0.62%

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

$172 $172

$173 $173

-0.46%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$68.7 $68.7

-12.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$82.5 $82.5

-18.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.63 $42.63

47.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$14.25 $14.25

3.37%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$986 $986

41.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$18.3K $18.3K

19.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$65.9 $65.9

-16.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$43.54 $43.54

4.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$104 $104

-16.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$112 $112

2.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,632 $1,632

37.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,335 $1,335

4.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,668 $2,668

41.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,205 $2,205

22.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$3,061 $3,061

138.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,418 $2,418

37.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.49

-0.62%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Rock Springs, WY: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,632 in Rock Springs, WY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $82 in Rock Springs, WY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $379 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 Rock Springs, WY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rock Springs, WY wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rock Springs, WY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,079 in Austin, TX and $3,878 in Rock Springs, WY to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,632 in Rock Springs, WY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $986 in Rock Springs, WY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Rock Springs, WY – a meal for two runs $82.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Rock Springs, WY 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.

Expats usually find Rock Springs, WY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.