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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,415 in Rochester, NY versus $2,701 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,746 in Rochester, NY versus $4,086 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,078 in Rochester, NY versus $5,470 in Austin, TX.

Living in Rochester, NY costs roughly 11% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rochester, NY 81% above, Austin, TX 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.65 $24.65

$19.97 $19.97

23.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.3 $80.3

$74.5 $74.5

7.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.31 $10.31

$9.85 $9.85

4.67%

Cappuccino

$5.87 $5.87

$5.79 $5.79

1.38%

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

$2.62 $2.62

$2.75 $2.75

-4.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.17 $2.17

29.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.08 $4.08

$5.98 $5.98

-31.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.14 $6.14

$8.11 $8.11

-24.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.10 $1.10

-14.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 $2.89

$3.28 $3.28

-11.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$3.37 $3.37

48.66%

Eggs

$3.98 $3.98

$4.31 $4.31

-7.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.80 $10.80

$12.02 $12.02

-10.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.55 $7.55

$10.58 $10.58

-28.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.45 $15.45

$14.59 $14.59

5.89%

Apples (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$5.04 $5.04

13.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.57 $1.57

-14.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$4.38 $4.38

-6.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$4.07 $4.07

15.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.77 $2.77

34.66%

Onion (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.82 $2.82

13.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.96 $1.96

4.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.23 $2.23

-22.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.84 $14.84

$8.75 $8.75

69.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.90 $9.90

$14.71 $14.71

-32.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.34 $2.34

6.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 $3.84

$3.47 $3.47

10.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.52 $1.52

32.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.60 $45.60

$42.74 $42.74

6.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 $2.49

$4.31 $4.31

-42.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.80 $1.80

1.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.21 $21.21

$35.23 $35.23

-39.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.80 $0.80

18.75%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$25.7K $25.7K

16.61%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.8K $26.8K

-6.14%

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

$147 $147

$173 $173

-15.19%

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

$49.82 $49.82

$58.5 $58.5

-14.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

-0.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.32 $44.32

$61.8 $61.8

-28.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.25 $44.25

$9.85 $9.85

349.24%

Cinema Ticket

$13.46 $13.46

$14.80 $14.80

-9.05%

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

$1,338 $1,338

$1,414 $1,414

-5.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.8K $28.8K

$22.1K $22.1K

30.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.20 $41.20

$54.9 $54.9

-24.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.52 $33.52

$46.67 $46.67

-28.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.5 $83.5

$87.6 $87.6

-4.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.0 $87.0

$119 $119

-27.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,566 $1,566

$2,200 $2,200

-28.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,185 $1,185

$1,428 $1,428

-16.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,203 $2,203

$3,769 $3,769

-41.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,226 $2,226

$2,704 $2,704

-17.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,451 $1,451

$7,334 $7,334

-80.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,448 $1,448

$3,140 $3,140

-53.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,959 $3,959

$5,093 $5,093

-22.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.45

1.86%

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

Last update for Rochester, NY: July 20, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,566 in Rochester, NY and $2,200 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 29% 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: $80.0 in Rochester, NY vs $74.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $354 vs $376, with Rochester, NY 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

Rochester, NY vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rochester, NY wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rochester, NY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Austin, TX. 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: $1,566 in Rochester, NY versus $2,200 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,415 per month in Rochester, NY versus $2,701 in Austin, TX – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Rochester, NY runs roughly 7% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Rochester, NY is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Rochester, NY delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,415 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Rochester, NY hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Rochester, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.