Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Round Rock, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Round Rock, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,439 in Round Rock, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,664 in Round Rock, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,888 in Round Rock, TX.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 11% more expensive than in Round Rock, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Round Rock, TX 83% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$19.88 $19.88

-0.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$76.2 $76.2

-0.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$12.16 $12.16

-18.91%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.92 $5.92

-7.43%

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

$2.65 $2.65

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.08 $2.08

0.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$5.87 $5.87

3.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$7.81 $7.81

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.05 $1.05

4.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.27 $3.27

3.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.37 $3.37

0.30%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.49 $3.49

25.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$10.33 $10.33

17.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$12.41 $12.41

-12.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$14.28 $14.28

2.80%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.94 $4.94

0.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.64 $1.64

-7.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$3.85 $3.85

14.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.94 $3.94

4.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.37 $2.37

18.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.78 $2.78

3.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.16 $2.16

0.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$8.75 $8.75

2.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$15.13 $15.13

-0.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.84 $1.84

26.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.50 $4.50

-23.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$3.02 $3.02

-49.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.99 $2.99

47.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.71 $1.71

7.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$23.64 $23.64

46.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.77 $0.77

1.30%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.8K $24.8K

4.84%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.7K $26.7K

-2.99%

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

$175 $175

$230 $230

-24.19%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$59.2 $59.2

0.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$65.3 $65.3

0.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$38.53 $38.53

59.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$13.46 $13.46

9.66%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$1,502 $1,502

-8.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$22.0K $22.0K

0.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$60.5 $60.5

-6.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$45.56 $45.56

-0.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$85.1 $85.1

-0.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

-0.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,428 $1,428

54.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,216 $1,216

15.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$2,220 $2,220

71.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$2,105 $2,105

27.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$2,706 $2,706

163.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$2,710 $2,710

13.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$4,564 $4,564

11.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.59

-2.12%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Round Rock, TX: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,428 in Round Rock, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 12% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $76.0 in Round Rock, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $371, with Round Rock, TX cheaper for home cooking.

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 Round Rock, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Round Rock, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Round Rock, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 12% higher in Austin, TX, 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: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,428 in Round Rock, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,372 in Austin, TX versus $1,502 in Round Rock, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Round Rock, TX – a meal for two runs $76.0 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. Round Rock, TX 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 Round Rock, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.