🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,656 in Rutland, VT versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,159 in Rutland, VT versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,663 in Rutland, VT versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.
🙂Monthly costs are close between Rutland, VT and Austin, TX; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rutland, VT98% above, Austin, TX98% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rutland, VT
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.63$19.63
$19.63$19.63
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.3$65.3
$75.1$75.1
-13.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.11$12.11
$9.92$9.92
22.08%
Cappuccino
$4.22$4.22
$5.67$5.67
-25.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15$2.15
$2.77$2.77
-22.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70$1.70
$2.17$2.17
-21.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.98$5.98
$5.84$5.84
2.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.02$7.02
$7.77$7.77
-9.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rutland, VT
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94$0.94
$1.09$1.09
-13.76%
White Bread(500g)
$3.48$3.48
$3.41$3.41
2.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.62$5.62
$3.43$3.43
63.85%
Eggs
$3.64$3.64
$4.39$4.39
-17.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.36$19.36
$11.95$11.95
62.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.83$13.83
$10.76$10.76
28.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.17$19.17
$14.29$14.29
34.15%
Apples(1kg)
$3.88$3.88
$4.84$4.84
-19.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44$1.44
$1.55$1.55
-7.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.79$3.79
$4.46$4.46
-15.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.13$4.13
$3.91$3.91
5.63%
Potato(1kg)
$3.25$3.25
$2.74$2.74
18.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.48$2.48
$2.74$2.74
-9.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93$1.93
$2.04$2.04
-5.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63$1.63
$2.25$2.25
-27.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.09$13.09
$8.93$8.93
46.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.91$8.91
$14.85$14.85
-40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76$1.76
$2.35$2.35
-25.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31$3.31
$3.57$3.57
-7.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Rutland, VT
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02$2.02
$1.47$1.47
37.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$42.98$42.98
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.92$4.92
$4.28$4.28
14.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.41$1.41
$1.84$1.84
-23.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.72$14.72
$35.54$35.54
-58.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85$0.85
$0.72$0.72
18.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K$17.9K
$25.7K$25.7K
-30.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K$21.2K
$26.2K$26.2K
-18.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rutland, VT
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192$192
$174$174
10.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.6$52.6
$60.2$60.2
-12.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.7$64.7
$66.3$66.3
-2.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rutland, VT
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.71$43.71
$62.8$62.8
-30.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$9.83$9.83
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.97$14.97
$15.24$15.24
-1.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rutland, VT
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,729$1,729
$1,387$1,387
24.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$30.6K$30.6K
$22.2K$22.2K
38.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rutland, VT
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.03$47.03
$56.7$56.7
-17.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.23$34.23
$45.34$45.34
-24.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.7$87.7
$86.5$86.5
1.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158$158
$119$119
32.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rutland, VT
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,601$1,601
$2,247$2,247
-28.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,348$1,348
$1,430$1,430
-5.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,425$2,425
$3,778$3,778
-35.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,991$2,991
$2,641$2,641
13.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,044$7,044
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,162$3,162
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rutland, VT
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,060$4,060
$5,108$5,108
-20.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.6
6.45
2.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rutland, VT: May 30, 2026
Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,601 in Rutland, VT and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Austin, TX pays 26% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Rutland, VT vs $75.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $405 vs $377, 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
Are salaries higher in Rutland, VT or Austin, TX?
On paper, Austin, TX earns 26% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rutland, VT vs Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,601 in Rutland, VT versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Rutland, VT or Austin, TX?
Shoppers in Austin, TX pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Rutland, VT vs Austin, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Rutland, VT – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $75.0 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 – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Should I move to Rutland, VT or Austin, TX?
It comes down to priorities – Rutland, VT wins on affordability, Austin, TX on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.
Rutland, VT vs other spots: cost of living compared