Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Rock Springs, WY: $2,444 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Rock Springs, WY
🇺🇸 United States
$2,444
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,698
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rock Springs, WY and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Rock Springs, WY and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,444 in Rock Springs, WY versus $2,698 in Austin, TX.

  • Rock Springs, WY $2,444
  • Austin, TX $2,698

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,553 in Rock Springs, WY versus $4,160 in Austin, TX.

  • Rock Springs, WY $3,553
  • Austin, TX $4,160

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,662 in Rock Springs, WY versus $5,622 in Austin, TX.

  • Rock Springs, WY $4,662
  • Austin, TX $5,622

Living in Rock Springs, WY costs roughly 9% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rock Springs, WY 80% above, Austin, TX 99% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rock Springs, WY
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.73 $17.73
$20.63 $20.63
-14.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.2 $73.2
$84.6 $84.6
-13.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.81 $9.81
$12.07 $12.07
-18.72%
Cappuccino
$4.97 $4.97
$5.48 $5.48
-9.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$3.80 $3.80
-39.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 $1.65
$2.47 $2.47
-33.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.90 $4.90
$8.05 $8.05
-39.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.84 $5.84
$8.88 $8.88
-34.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rock Springs, WY
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.11 $1.11
-20.72%
White Bread (500g)
$3.95 $3.95
$3.72 $3.72
6.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 $1.80
$3.37 $3.37
-46.59%
Eggs
$2.95 $2.95
$4.32 $4.32
-31.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.90 $10.90
$13.13 $13.13
-16.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.96 $9.96
$14.15 $14.15
-29.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.13 $17.13
$16.33 $16.33
4.90%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 $3.98
$4.55 $4.55
-12.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.46 $1.46
-7.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.36 $3.36
$4.71 $4.71
-28.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$4.15 $4.15
-30.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 $1.93
$2.58 $2.58
-25.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.35 $2.35
6.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.77 $1.77
9.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 $0.99
$2.14 $2.14
-53.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.92 $8.92
$10.10 $10.10
-11.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.95 $14.95
$15.19 $15.19
-1.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.82 $2.82
-6.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 $3.27
$3.44 $3.44
-4.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Rock Springs, WY
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.54 $1.54
11.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.99 $40.99
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.80 $2.80
-12.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.60 $1.60
41.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.36 $25.36
$34.34 $34.34
-26.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$0.94 $0.94
7.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K $35.0K
$34.0K $34.0K
2.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K $24.0K
$26.8K $26.8K
-10.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rock Springs, WY
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$197 $197
$223 $223
-11.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.10 $44.10
$58.9 $58.9
-25.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.8 $79.8
$70.6 $70.6
13.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rock Springs, WY
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.29 $42.29
$57.7 $57.7
-26.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.53 $16.53
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.05 $15.05
$14.26 $14.26
5.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rock Springs, WY
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,294 $1,294
$1,511 $1,511
-14.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.5K $20.5K
$20.9K $20.9K
-1.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rock Springs, WY
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.17 $49.17
$51.3 $51.3
-4.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.34 $46.34
$44.17 $44.17
4.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.3 $81.3
$87.0 $87.0
-6.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 $106
$104 $104
1.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rock Springs, WY
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$791 $791
$1,940 $1,940
-59.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,283 $1,283
$1,316 $1,316
-2.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,519 $2,519
$3,664 $3,664
-31.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,113 $2,113
$2,565 $2,565
-17.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,563 $1,563
$7,354 $7,354
-78.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,608 $1,608
$3,129 $3,129
-48.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rock Springs, WY
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,286 $5,286
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.46
6.79
-4.86%

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

Last update for Rock Springs, WY: October 18, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rock Springs, WY
$1.3K
Austin, TX
$1.3K 2.6% $34
Groceries & Markets
Rock Springs, WY
$337
Austin, TX
$406 20.4% $69
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rock Springs, WY
$321
Austin, TX
$352 9.6% $31
Eating Out
Rock Springs, WY
$283
Austin, TX
$350 23.7% $67
Clothing & Footwear
Rock Springs, WY
$127
Austin, TX
$129 1.4% $1.7
Sport & Entertainment
Rock Springs, WY
$72
Austin, TX
$86 19.1% $14
Getting Around
Rock Springs, WY
$21 *
Austin, TX
$58 180% $37

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $791 in Rock Springs, WY and $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $73.0 in Rock Springs, WY vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $337 vs $406 per month, with Rock Springs, WY cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Rock Springs, WY
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
21:40 9:40 PM
22:40 10:40 PM
1 h ahead of Rock Springs, WY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
22,105
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rock Springs, WY Austin, TX 1,620 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Rock Springs, WY
  • Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Rock Springs, WY vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rock Springs, WY or Austin, TX?
Rock Springs, WY wins on cost – living expenses run 10% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Rock Springs, WY and in Austin, TX?
You'd need roughly $3,667 in Rock Springs, WY and $4,046 in Austin, TX 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rock Springs, WY compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $791 in Rock Springs, WY versus $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Rock Springs, WY and in Austin, TX?
Childcare runs $1,294 in Rock Springs, WY versus $1,511 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Rock Springs, WY and in Austin, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Rock Springs, WY – a meal for two runs $73.0 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Rock Springs, WY or in Austin, TX?
At $2,444 in Rock Springs, WY versus $2,698 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Rock Springs, WY but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Rock Springs, WY the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Rock Springs, WY or Austin, TX?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Rock Springs, WY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Rock Springs, WY vs other spots: cost of living compared

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