Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Rochester?

Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Rochester?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Austin or Rochester?

Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Austin vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Austin

Texas

$1,660/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,660 in Austin, TX versus $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Austin, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 4% higher in Austin, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Austin, TX

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$1,348

$1,080

+20% in Austin, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,457

$1,106

+24% in Austin, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,776

$1,243

+30% in Austin, TX

3 Bedroom

$2,127

$1,646

+23% in Austin, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$512,700

$287,500

+44% in Austin, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$91,461

$87,767

+4% in Austin, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,950

$60,620

+6% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.5 yr

36.4 yr

+1.9 yr in Rochester, MN

Homeownership

44.4%

65.4%

+21.0 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.2%

50.1%

+8.1 pp in Austin, TX

Avg Commute

24.0 min

17.2 min

+6.8 min in Austin, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

476.1

158.9

+67% in Austin, TX

Property Crime

3,290.7

1,379

+58% in Austin, TX

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

67.2°F

45.4°F

+21.8°F in Austin, TX

Annual Precipitation

34.9 in

33.0 in

+1.9 in in Austin, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.95/gal

+9% in Rochester, MN

Area: Texas vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

Adult base one-way fare — CapMetro vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

16.9

+3% in Rochester, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$14.95

+51% in Austin, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Rochester, MN

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Austin, TX

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Rochester, MN

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Rochester, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / MN)

6.25%

6.875%

+0.6 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.85%

+9.8 pp in MN

Austin vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Rochester?: Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Austin or Rochester?: Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).