Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Rochester

Cost of Living Comparison

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$22,224
Net Income $40,535

To match your lifestyle in Rochester, you'd need:

$56,432

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos 126.4
Rochester 94.4
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos $32,079
Rochester $43,067

Rochester

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$10,486
Rent (2BR) -$18,876
Net Income $40,638

To match your lifestyle in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, you'd need:

$87,801

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $103 more per year in Rochester compared to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos. You'd pay $3,245 more in taxes in Rochester, while housing costs 15% less. The cost of living in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is 26% above avg, while Rochester is 6% below avg, making Rochester the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos feels like earning $56,432 in Rochester once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Rochester has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos ($22,621 vs $24,813 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
Rochester
Schools
541
283
Enrollment
345,378
155,883
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
13.8%
4.6%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
Rochester
Institutions
31
25
In-State Tuition
$22,621
$24,813
Out-of-State
$28,276
$26,435
Grad Rate
58.5%
59.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos or Rochester more expensive?

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is more expensive with a cost of living index of 126.4 vs 94.4 (national average = 100).

What salary in Rochester equals $70,000 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos?

You would need to earn approximately $56,432 in Rochester to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Rochester?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $22,224 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos and $18,876 in Rochester—housing is 15% less in Rochester.