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: $3,583 in Seattle, WA versus $2,534 in Round Rock, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,632 in Seattle, WA versus $3,709 in Round Rock, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,681 in Seattle, WA versus $4,883 in Round Rock, TX.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 41% more expensive than Round Rock, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Round Rock, TX 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.97 $24.97

$19.71 $19.71

26.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$76.1 $76.1

56.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.90 $13.90

$11.92 $11.92

16.61%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.93 $5.93

-6.24%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.67 $2.67

14.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.04 $2.04

21.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$5.88 $5.88

35.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.01 $8.01

$7.83 $7.83

2.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.05 $1.05

27.62%

White Bread (500g)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.16 $3.16

59.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$3.46 $3.46

54.91%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$3.45 $3.45

91.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.31 $25.31

$10.14 $10.14

149.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$12.45 $12.45

30.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.30 $20.30

$14.58 $14.58

39.23%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$4.84 $4.84

23.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.66 $1.66

65.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$3.98 $3.98

34.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.61 $6.61

$4.06 $4.06

62.81%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.41 $2.41

34.85%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.81 $2.81

34.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.01 $2.01

35.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.14 $2.14

18.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$8.96 $8.96

26.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.28 $16.28

$15.14 $15.14

7.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.91 $1.91

49.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 $4.16

$4.52 $4.52

-7.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.08 $3.08

-12.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.1 $97.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.97 $2.97

-8.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.46 $29.46

$23.60 $23.60

24.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.78 $0.78

53.85%

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

$33.6K $33.6K

$24.3K $24.3K

37.97%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.3K $26.3K

-1.08%

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

$266 $266

$227 $227

17.45%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$60.3 $60.3

0.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$64.7 $64.7

17.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.2 $79.2

$37.40 $37.40

111.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.51 $40.51

Cinema Ticket

$16.22 $16.22

$13.75 $13.75

17.96%

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

$2,280 $2,280

$1,516 $1,516

50.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$22.0K $22.0K

34.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 $69.6

$60.7 $60.7

14.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 $52.6

$44.31 $44.31

18.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$87.4 $87.4

36.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$116 $116

23.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,448 $1,448

64.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 $1,866

$1,197 $1,197

55.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,724 $4,724

$2,200 $2,200

114.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,510 $3,510

$2,114 $2,114

66.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,711 $7,711

$2,753 $2,753

180.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,381 $5,381

$2,781 $2,781

93.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,493 $6,493

$4,670 $4,670

39.02%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Round Rock, TX: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,378 in Seattle, WA and $1,448 in Round Rock, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 39% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $76.0 in Round Rock, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $544 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 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 39% 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: $2,378 in Seattle, WA versus $1,448 in Round Rock, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,583 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,534 in Round Rock, TX – a 41% 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 41% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.