Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Round Rock, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Round Rock, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,533 in Seattle, WA versus $2,461 in Round Rock, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $3,651 in Round Rock, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,565 in Seattle, WA versus $4,841 in Round Rock, TX.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 44% more expensive than Round Rock, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 165% above, Round Rock, TX 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.41 $25.41

$20.13 $20.13

26.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$75.8 $75.8

60.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.81 $13.81

$12.15 $12.15

13.66%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.85 $5.85

0.17%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.59 $2.59

15.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.05 $2.05

17.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 $7.90

$6.07 $6.07

30.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$8.24 $8.24

-0.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.05 $1.05

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$4.90 $4.90

$3.28 $3.28

49.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$3.49 $3.49

48.42%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.37 $3.37

103.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.93 $24.93

$10.17 $10.17

145.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.69 $15.69

$12.43 $12.43

26.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.12 $20.12

$14.38 $14.38

39.92%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$4.84 $4.84

24.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.67 $1.67

70.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$3.85 $3.85

39.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$3.98 $3.98

67.59%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.44 $2.44

28.69%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.86 $2.86

29.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.01 $2.01

38.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.24 $2.24

18.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$9.04 $9.04

25.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.53 $15.53

$14.83 $14.83

4.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.84 $1.84

55.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 $4.20

$4.54 $4.54

-7.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.95 $2.95

-5.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.0 $97.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.08 $3.08

-15.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.76 $1.76

-5.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.75 $29.75

$23.88 $23.88

24.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.73 $0.73

56.16%

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

$33.4K $33.4K

$24.3K $24.3K

37.31%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

0.59%

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

$263 $263

$226 $226

16.26%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$59.4 $59.4

3.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.6 $74.6

$65.5 $65.5

13.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.7 $79.7

$38.05 $38.05

109.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.05 $41.05

Cinema Ticket

$15.81 $15.81

$13.25 $13.25

19.32%

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

$2,289 $2,289

$1,474 $1,474

55.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$21.7K $21.7K

36.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 $68.1

$60.9 $60.9

11.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$45.34 $45.34

14.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$85.2 $85.2

37.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$120 $120

16.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 $2,377

$1,460 $1,460

62.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,874 $1,874

$1,179 $1,179

58.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,182 $2,182

117.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,575 $3,575

$2,073 $2,073

72.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,026 $8,026

$2,708 $2,708

196.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,203 $5,203

$2,792 $2,792

86.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,621 $6,621

$4,564 $4,564

45.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.59

-2.58%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 14, 2026

Last update for Round Rock, TX: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,377 in Seattle, WA and $1,460 in Round Rock, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 45% 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: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $76.0 in Round Rock, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $540 vs $372 per month, with Round Rock, TX cheaper across the board.

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

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

Round Rock, TX is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 45% more on average, 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: $2,377 in Seattle, WA versus $1,460 in Round Rock, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,533 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,461 in Round Rock, TX – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

For families, Round Rock, TX is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Round Rock, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.