๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,675 in Rutland, VT versus $2,719 in Austin, TX.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,210 in Rutland, VT versus $4,117 in Austin, TX.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,746 in Rutland, VT versus $5,515 in Austin, TX.
๐Living in Rutland, VT costs roughly 2% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rutland, VT100% above, Austin, TX103% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Rutland, VT
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.65$19.65
$19.99$19.99
-1.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.7$65.7
$76.2$76.2
-13.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.03$12.03
$10.13$10.13
18.76%
Cappuccino
$4.17$4.17
$5.49$5.49
-24.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17$2.17
$2.72$2.72
-20.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$2.14$2.14
-17.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.03$6.03
$6.07$6.07
-0.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.12$7.12
$8.04$8.04
-11.44%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Rutland, VT
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.97$0.97
$1.09$1.09
-11.01%
White Bread(500g)
$3.48$3.48
$3.34$3.34
4.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.90$5.90
$3.42$3.42
72.51%
Eggs
$3.69$3.69
$4.32$4.32
-14.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.08$19.08
$11.80$11.80
61.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.83$13.83
$10.68$10.68
29.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.21$19.21
$14.50$14.50
32.48%
Apples(1kg)
$3.73$3.73
$4.79$4.79
-22.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45$1.45
$1.50$1.50
-3.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.91$3.91
$4.51$4.51
-13.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.06$4.06
$4.04$4.04
0.50%
Potato(1kg)
$3.16$3.16
$2.76$2.76
14.49%
Onion(1kg)
$2.47$2.47
$2.79$2.79
-11.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.86$1.86
$2.04$2.04
-8.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63$1.63
$2.15$2.15
-24.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.10$13.10
$9.23$9.23
41.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.77$13.77
$14.81$14.81
-7.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$2.29$2.29
-22.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35$3.35
$3.53$3.53
-5.10%
๐ Getting Around
Rutland, VT
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05$2.05
$1.52$1.52
34.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$43.64$43.64
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.03$5.03
$4.29$4.29
17.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.42$1.42
$1.82$1.82
-21.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.80$14.80
$35.52$35.52
-58.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89$0.89
$0.77$0.77
15.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8K$17.8K
$25.6K$25.6K
-30.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K$21.2K
$26.3K$26.3K
-19.34%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rutland, VT
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$194$194
$172$172
12.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.8$52.8
$60.3$60.3
-12.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.3$67.3
$67.2$67.2
0.12%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Rutland, VT
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.26$43.26
$62.8$62.8
-31.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$9.85$9.85
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.03$15.03
$14.73$14.73
2.04%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Rutland, VT
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,746$1,746
$1,398$1,398
24.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$29.9K$29.9K
$21.8K$21.8K
37.25%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Rutland, VT
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.85$47.85
$55.1$55.1
-13.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.67$34.67
$45.66$45.66
-24.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.5$86.5
$86.8$86.8
-0.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159$159
$115$115
37.99%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Rutland, VT
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,613$1,613
$2,245$2,245
-28.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,333$1,333
$1,401$1,401
-4.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,449$2,449
$3,782$3,782
-35.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,991$2,991
$2,708$2,708
10.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,304$7,304
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,331$3,331
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Rutland, VT
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,356$5,356
$4,910$4,910
9.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.6
6.45
2.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rutland, VT: April 21, 2026
Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,613 in Rutland, VT and $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐRutland, VT pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $66 in Rutland, VT vs $76 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $415 vs $375, with Austin, 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
Rutland, VT vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rutland, VT or Austin, TX?
Rutland, VT wins on cost โ living expenses run 2% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rutland, VT the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Rutland, VT or Austin, TX?
Rutland, VT pays 9% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rutland, VT vs Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,613 in Rutland, VT versus $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Rutland, VT and Austin, TX?
Childcare runs $1,746 in Rutland, VT versus $1,398 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 Rutland, VT vs Austin, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Rutland, VT โ a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $76.0 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 Rutland, VT or Austin, TX?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Rutland, VT is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Rutland, VT or Austin, TX?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Rutland, VT gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 2% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Rutland, VT vs other spots: cost of living compared