Cost of Living in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Is it worth moving here?
How far does a $70,000 salary go in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos? Estimated income taxes on that gross salary total approximately $7,241 per year — Texas levies no state income tax, so that figure covers federal tax only. Subtract rent for a 2-bedroom apartment ($1,852/month based on HUD Fair Market Rents for the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro area) and the estimated annual take-home is $40,535, or roughly $3,378 per month for everything else: food, transportation, savings, and discretionary spending.
The Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro has a cost of living index of 126.4 according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (national average = 100). At 26% above average, Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is a noticeably expensive metro — groceries, services, and everyday purchases cost more than in most of the country.
At a $70,000 salary, the estimated 2-bedroom rent in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos represents approximately 32% of gross income. That exceeds the conventional 30% guideline, meaning housing takes a significant share of the budget at this income level. Texas's zero income tax helps offset the rent burden compared to otherwise similar cities that also levy state income tax.
Annual Breakdown
Cost of Living Index
Living in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX is roughly 26% more expensive than the national average.
Monthly Take-Home
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Affordability Score
K-12 Schools
See Details →Colleges & Universities
See Details →| Institution | Enrollment | In-State Tuition | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| CyberTex Institute of Technology | 195 | $0 | 95.0% |
| The University of Texas at Austin | 53,082 | $11,678 | 88.0% |
| Avenue Five Institute-South Austin Campus | 131 | $0 | 85.0% |
| Ann Webb Skin Institute | 181 | $0 | 84.0% |
| Austin Career Institute | 51 | $0 | 82.0% |
| Avenue Five Institute | 267 | $0 | 81.0% |
| Central Texas Beauty College-Round Rock | 93 | $0 | 71.0% |
| Southwestern University | 1,457 | $50,558 | 69.0% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Austin | 192 | $0 | 65.0% |
| Saint Edward's University | 3,309 | $50,484 | 64.0% |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Georgetown | 72 | $0 | 61.0% |
| Total Transformation Institute of Cosmetology | 94 | $0 | 58.0% |
| Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Austin | 372 | $0 | 57.0% |
| Texas State University | 38,722 | $8,606 | 56.0% |
| The Recording Conservatory of Austin | 82 | $0 | 54.0% |
| Southern Careers Institute-Austin | 1,079 | $0 | 52.0% |
| The College of Health Care Professions-Austin | 829 | $0 | 52.0% |
| Concordia University Texas | 1,614 | $35,750 | 41.0% |
| Huston-Tillotson University | 1,029 | $12,569 | 36.0% |
| Baldwin Beauty School-North Austin | 84 | $0 | 35.0% |
| Baldwin Beauty School-South Austin | 46 | $0 | 32.0% |
| Austin Community College District | 35,600 | $2,010 | 18.0% |
| South University-Austin | 290 | $15,732 | 9.0% |
| Universal Technical Institute-West Texas | 955 | $0 | — |
| Galen Health Institutes-Austin Campus | 917 | $16,200 | — |
| Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary | 168 | $0 | — |
| Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest | 116 | $0 | — |
| Texas Health and Science University | 65 | $0 | — |
| AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine | 35 | $0 | — |