Cost of Living in Round Rock, TX: Is It Affordable?

Cost of Living in Round Rock, TX: Is It Affordable?

Located just north of Austin, Round Rock, TX, is a rapidly growing city known for its high quality of life, family-friendly atmosphere, and relatively affordable cost of living. Over the past few decades, Round Rock has transformed from a small, quiet suburb into a vibrant community with booming residential developments, top-rated schools, and a thriving local economy. 

Its close proximity to Austin makes it an attractive option for those seeking a quieter lifestyle while still having easy access to the job opportunities and cultural amenities that the Texas capital offers. Round Rock is particularly appealing to young professionals, growing families, and retirees alike. 

Whether you’re thinking about buying a home, renting an apartment, or simply planning your move to the area, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of the full cost of living in Round Rock. This blog will take an in-depth look at various expense categories from housing and utilities to healthcare and recreation to help you determine whether Round Rock is truly an affordable place to call home.

Housing Costs

Housing is a significant factor in the cost of living for any city, and Round Rock is no exception. 

  • Home Prices: The average home in Round Rock is priced around $400,000. This is lower than nearby Austin, where homes typically cost around $550,000.
  • Rental Rates: Renting in Round Rock costs between $1,500 and $2,200 per month, depending on the size and location. Austin’s rental rates are 20-30% higher, while Cedar Park’s prices are similar to Round Rock.
  • Neighborhoods for Buyers: Round Rock offers affordable family-friendly areas such as Teravista and Forest Creek, providing excellent amenities at a lower price compared to Austin.

Utilities and Monthly Expenses

Utility costs in Round Rock are generally on par with other Texas cities. Expect to pay around $150 to $200 per month for electricity, depending on the size of your home and the time of year. 

  • Water and Gas: These utilities generally cost between $50 and $100 per month.
  • Internet: High-speed internet plans range from $50 to $80 per month.
  • Overall Expenses: Utility costs in Round Rock are typical for Texas and considered reasonable.

Transportation Costs

Round Rock doesn’t have a robust public transportation system compared to larger cities, but the Capital Metro service does connect the city with Austin. 

  • Public Transportation: Capital Metro connects Round Rock to Austin, with a monthly pass costing around $41.
  • Gas Prices: Texas gas prices are lower than the national average, usually around $3.50 per gallon.
  • Car Insurance: Annually, car insurance in Round Rock costs between $1,200 and $1,500.

Commute times can be a concern for Round Rock residents working in Austin. The drive to downtown Austin takes about 30 minutes without heavy traffic but can extend to over an hour during rush hours. Transportation costs here are moderate compared to larger Texas cities.

Food and Groceries

Grocery shopping in Round Rock is known for being affordable and convenient, with a variety of options for residents to choose from. Major grocery retailers like H-E-B and Walmart offer competitive pricing on everyday items, ensuring that most essentials are accessible for households on a budget. Common grocery staples in the area include:

  • Milk: About $3.00 per gallon
  • Bread: Approximately $2.50 per loaf
  • Eggs: Around $2.00 per dozen
  • Chicken: $2.50 to $3.50 per pound
  • Fresh produce: Prices vary depending on the season but remain affordable

In addition to the larger chains, there are smaller specialty stores and farmers’ markets offering fresh, organic, and locally sourced produce, meats, and dairy products. This allows residents to have a wide range of choices to fit different dietary needs and preferences.

Healthcare Costs

Round Rock is home to a range of healthcare facilities, ensuring that residents have access to high-quality medical services without needing to travel far. Major providers such as Baylor Scott & White Medical Center and St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center serve the local community, offering comprehensive medical services that include emergency care, outpatient services, and specialized treatments.

When it comes to everyday healthcare costs, Round Rock is fairly affordable compared to larger cities like Austin and Houston. The average cost of a doctor’s visit is around $120, making routine check-ups and consultations reasonably priced. Dental care is also accessible, with dental visits ranging from $90 to $150 depending on the type of service required, such as cleanings, fillings, or more complex dental work.

Entertainment and Recreation

Round Rock is known for its outdoor activities and family-friendly recreational options. Popular attractions include Old Settlers Park and the Round Rock Express baseball team. 

  • Outdoor Activities: Round Rock offers attractions like Old Settlers Park and the Round Rock Express baseball team.
  • Gym Memberships: Typically cost between $30 and $50 per month.
  • Sports Leagues: Participation fees for leagues and fitness programs range from $100 to $200 per season.
  • Entertainment Costs: Tickets for movies and sports events range from $10 to $25.

Education and Childcare Costs

For families with children, education and childcare are key considerations. 

  • Private Schools:
    For families seeking private education, Round Rock offers a variety of private institutions. The cost of private school tuition can range from $7,000 to $15,000 annually, depending on the school and the grade level. Options include religious schools, preparatory academies, and Montessori schools, providing families with diverse choices for specialized education.
  • Childcare and Daycare Services:
    Childcare is another important consideration for families with younger children. In Round Rock, the average cost of daycare services typically falls between $800 and $1,200 per month. This can vary depending on the provider, location, and type of care (full-time or part-time). There are numerous daycare centers and in-home childcare options that cater to the needs of working parents.
  • After-School Programs:
    After-school programs provide structured activities for children once the school day ends. These programs are not only beneficial for academic and social development but also offer convenience for working parents. The cost of after-school programs in Round Rock ranges from $100 to $200 per month, depending on the program and the level of involvement.

Taxes and Additional Costs

Taxes and other living expenses are key factors that influence the overall affordability of living in Round Rock. Here’s an overview of the taxes and additional costs residents can expect:

  • Sales Tax:
    Round Rock’s sales tax rate is currently 8.25%, which is standard for most cities in Texas. This rate applies to most goods and services, making it an important consideration for everyday expenses like shopping and dining out.
  • Property Taxes:
    Homeowners in Round Rock pay property taxes that average around 2.3% of the assessed property value. This rate is slightly higher than the national average but comparable to other nearby cities like Austin and Cedar Park. Property tax rates can vary depending on the neighborhood and the specific value of the home.
  • City Service Fees:
    In addition to taxes, residents may also encounter minimal city service fees for utilities and trash collection. These fees are typically nominal and don’t add significant costs to the overall cost of living, but it’s worth factoring them into your monthly expenses.

Comparing Round Rock to Other Texas Cities

  • Austin: Round Rock is more affordable, particularly in housing and daily expenses. Austin has higher living costs and housing prices.
  • Cedar Park: Housing costs in Cedar Park are similar to those in Round Rock.
  • Houston and San Antonio: Round Rock falls in the middle range of affordability, offering a lower cost of living compared to Austin but with access to Austin’s job market and amenities.

Conclusion

Round Rock, TX, offers a relatively affordable cost of living, especially in comparison to Austin. While certain costs, such as transportation and utilities, are on par with other Texas cities, the lower housing prices make Round Rock an attractive place to live for those seeking a more budget-friendly option close to the capital. With its good schools, plentiful recreational options, and a welcoming community, Round Rock is a solid choice for individuals and families looking for a comfortable and affordable lifestyle.

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Mighty Might are fantastic. This was our second move with them and it went perfectly. Great pre-planning, execution and communication, and really nice people to work with.
Ben Schenck
Ben Schenck
16:42 31 Jan 25
They sent a great team. They were good at what they do, respected our stuff and worked safe. This is a class act. would most definitely hire again.
Christopher Hasse
Christopher Hasse
00:39 31 Jan 25
Third time to use Mighty Might Moving. They are excellent movers. Great communication. Always on time. The movers are friendly and very efficient. I highly recommend them.
jean cody
jean cody
20:30 26 Jan 25
Aaron and Dakota were great and exceeded our expectations! They took great care with our belongings and went above and beyond to meet added requests.
Candance Owens
Candance Owens
20:48 25 Jan 25
Excellent service. They are extremely communicative and the crew that moved us was the best. Fast and efficient. If I ever move again I’ll be using this company!
Ladybloodraven
Ladybloodraven
14:12 19 Jan 25
The team for our move was professional, hard working, and took care of our belongings. We never felt like we had to watch over them and keep them moving. Great job, will always use Mighty Might!
Jennifer Cabay
Jennifer Cabay
17:41 07 Jan 25
Amazing experience today, Dakota and his partner were extremely professional and finished at a great speed for a two bedroom apt.
Mike Rios
Mike Rios
22:55 29 Dec 24
First off… let me say my last move with a different company brought me to tears because it was so stressful.So, I was very anxious about my move today.Dakota and Trevor showed up and within a couple minutes I felt at ease. Mighty Might had sent two genuinely good guys who had probably the best work ethic I’ve ever seen in movers (and I’ve moved a lot). They were kind, friendly, funny and they genuinely impressed me with how fast and efficient they were! Hands down the best crew!I don’t post reviews often but the exceptional service I experienced deserves it. I will absolutely recommend your company to my friends/family and would 1000% use again!Thank you for a great moving experience!!
Kandyce Walker
Kandyce Walker
23:29 23 Dec 24
The Moving experience was excellent. Took the stress off our shoulders. The owners and movers where very great in communication and very polite. Will hire them in the near future!
Celina Garcia
Celina Garcia
18:34 23 Dec 24
Seriously impressed! I have moved A LOT. The movers showed up on time, they were pleasant, efficient, careful and did an amazing job. I will use them again for any future moves. HIGHLY recommend
christina carvell
christina carvell
18:25 20 Dec 24
We used mighty might moving to move out of our house as well as to empty a storage unit and load a moving truck months later. Overall, they did a great job both times, were very efficient, and good at what they do! Reasonable cost compared to multiple other quotes and I don’t feel we received any less of a service for a cheaper cost. We will definitely use them if needed in the future and recommend them to local family and friends.
Margaret M
Margaret M
19:24 07 Dec 24
Arrived on time even though the weather was bad. Took great care of our things and house. All were professional and courteous and worked quickly to get the job done. I recommend using Mighty Might Moving.
Lee Frank
Lee Frank
17:52 04 Dec 24
Smooth and easy process from beginning to end. Communication is top notch, the move went fast, and the team were so kind. Highly recommend!
Shannon Potter
Shannon Potter
18:55 16 Nov 24
These guys were spectacular! They were fast and efficient but also kind and respectful of our items. They only charge you for the time they are there. When calling around to other companies in the area, I was quoted 7 hours of labor and the other companies charge for the full 7 hours booked whether it takes that long or not. I would highly recommend this company to anyone looking for an honest company with hard workers. The efficiency, price, and kindness were all huge bonuses as well.
Aly
Aly
22:36 13 Nov 24
Their movers were on time, friendly and professional. Good experience!
Richard Southwick
Richard Southwick
02:06 08 Nov 24
This is the 4th time I’ve used Mighty Might. They are fast, efficient, careful, and courteous. I won’t use anyone else for local moves. I just wish they did out of state moves!
Jane Bryant
Jane Bryant
21:34 31 Oct 24
Asked for recommendations and two people suggested Mighty Might Moving. Saw the reviews which were favorable so hired them to move me and they were fantastic. On time and professional, respectful and friendly. I was even a "girl" and had to ask them to rearrange the living room and move my file cabinet to another location. Would definitely recommend them.
Mary Furlong
Mary Furlong
18:02 25 Oct 24
We give them a 5-Star, they're very efficient and punctual. They made our move so easy, I would highly recommend them. They have all the right tools and stuff needed for this move, to protect our furnitures. The guys are awesome!!
Ivy Lamoureux
Ivy Lamoureux
20:52 12 Oct 24
Super quick, nothing broken and great personalities!!! Thanks guys!!!
Nikki Robinson
Nikki Robinson
17:55 09 Oct 24
Mighty movers did an incredible job, they moved everything in my apartment, including wall hangings that I assumed I'd have to remove myself. They asked, "would you like this painting to go too?" I said, "sure!" and they removed it from the wall and carefully wrapped it with a blanket. There were no extra charges, they unloaded my entire apartment in less than 50 minutes and loaded, placed my furniture, and put my bed back together in about an hour. I was completely moved in to my new place by 10:30am. Just a fantastic job all around. Can't recommend them enough!
Andrea Ovens
Andrea Ovens
13:26 04 Oct 24
Such a wonderful experience with this company! Highly recommend!
Emily Bridge
Emily Bridge
02:03 01 Oct 24
Very professional, came out to the house to ensure they provided an accurate quote. All three guys super nice moved fast and kept everything wrapped and protected. Got done in under the time quoted. Would definitely recommend.
tiffany anderson
tiffany anderson
02:13 08 Sep 24
Mighty Movers are the best, very professional, fast and efficient. Moved my furniture into storage!
Molly Babb
Molly Babb
17:31 03 Sep 24
Our 3- man crew was amazing and worked so hard. We would for sure use them again if needed. Super nice guys also.
Colette Bellville
Colette Bellville
00:22 02 Sep 24
This was an amazing experience and quick too! The guys were so nice and they were so quick but meticulous and handled our stuff with care. We will be using them again in the very near future for my family!
Misty Garcia
Misty Garcia
15:22 29 Aug 24
Thank you to Mighty Might moving company for helping us move our storage to our home. They are a wonderful group of young men who are very polite and kind and nice and very very helpful. We view them many times in our thankful for their expertise. Thank you again Mighty Might moving. !
Barbara McBride
Barbara McBride
20:14 22 Aug 24
First time getting movers and I was not disappointed. Samuel, Julio and Trevor were great! They did an amazing job and were so nice! I will be using Mighty Might Moving for any future moves.
Carla Alaniz
Carla Alaniz
17:18 20 Aug 24
Mighty Might Moving moved me from Georgetown to San Antonio last Friday. It went great!! They arrived on time, were patient and conscientious, and took really good care of all my things. They worked efficiently (paid/hour) yet handled all my stuff with care. I'd recommend them in a heartbeat!!
Laura Arciniaga
Laura Arciniaga
13:17 19 Aug 24
Aaron & Derrick were the bomb!!!! I had a few antique pieces and they took extra special care of them, which I appreciate very much. I highly recommend Mighty Might Moving!
RaiderLady GunsUp
RaiderLady GunsUp
20:41 18 Aug 24
They were the best!! Fast, punctual, and friendly. Will definitely use them again and can’t recommend enough!!
Jake Harp
Jake Harp
18:27 18 Aug 24
Absolutely amazing job! We had a few furniture pieces that needed disassembling, they got it done in a heartbeat no sweat. Speedy, respectful with belongings and overall easy in-n-out process. Would definitely recommend to family and friends, thank you!!
Kiona Wu
Kiona Wu
16:11 18 Aug 24
The gentlemen who came to help me move were phenomenal. They moved quickly, helped to put together some of my furniture, and we're careful with my furniture, wrapping up the wood pieces to assure no damage. Highly recommend them!
Casey Shaw
Casey Shaw
11:17 02 Aug 24
Mighty movers are very fast and efficient and have fair pricings. Highly recommend
Katy
Katy
16:03 31 Jul 24
super awesome ! Will always use everytime !
D Forfia
D Forfia
20:42 30 Jul 24
I hired Mighty Might Movers to assist in my move out from a house to a storage unit over this past weekend. The communication from Maria who coordinated it, to the hard work of Kacey/Sam was absolutely amazing!! Best customer service I’ve received in a very long time!! I’m looking forward to hiring them again on my next move out (from the storage) to my new place of residence!JOB WELL DONE!!THANKS AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!
Veronica Mota
Veronica Mota
16:31 29 Jul 24
Trevor and Derrick were freaking awesome!!!!!Best moving experience I have had. Will recommend to anyone moving thank uou
Joel Lara
Joel Lara
17:36 25 Jul 24
The crew that came was polite, they communicated well together, and finished the job quickly. Very professional and there was no damage to furniture or home. Will 100% call them again for future needs.
Shannon Vincin
Shannon Vincin
18:14 23 Jul 24
We've used Mighty Might Moving twice: once for a local move and most recently for an out-of-town move. Both times, the movers were on time, friendly, and incredibly efficient. They carefully disassembled the beds, wrapped all the furniture, and loaded the boxes securely. During our last move, some of the boxes had come untaped, and I noticed that they took the time to retape them. They also moved two TVs, and they survived the move without a scratch. In our new house, they hooked up our appliances and reassembled our beds.They completed the move in less than the estimated time and handled our belongings with care. I also appreciated their upfront pricing. They were transparent throughout the entire process, and I never felt like they were trying to add hidden fees. Overall, Mighty Might Moving made what can be a stressful experience a breeze. We highly recommend them!
Emily Ferguson
Emily Ferguson
14:28 21 Jul 24
Mighty Might movers sent a fantastic team of hard-working men who hustled to get the job done. No damage to our furniture or the house. The guys were friendly and efficient. This is the fourth time using them for a move and I will use them again in the future if needed.
Michael Turturro
Michael Turturro
13:40 20 Jul 24
It was a 14 hour day and these guys were in high spirits and friendly until the end. Great experience.
Holly Brocato
Holly Brocato
03:10 15 Jul 24
Great customer service from initial phone call through project completion. The crew was very helpful, courteous, respectful, and went above and beyond to make sure we were happy. The estimate was very reasonable and the electronic contract and payment module made the experience so easy. I will definitely be a repeat customer.
Robert P
Robert P
18:44 10 Jul 24
This was, by far, the best move I have ever had. Both Kasey and Derek were punctual, professional, and took excellent care of my stuff.Best of all, it was the speediest move I’ve ever had too: the entire process (from the call to announce they were en route, to the very last piece of furniture,) the whole thing took just under 2 hours. (Added photo for proof:Lap 1 = Time it took them to arrive to my locationLap 2 = Time it took for Kasey and Derek to pack up everything.Lap 3 = Transit time from previous home to new homeLap 4 = Time it took to unload.)Seriously, these guys mean “Mighty Might” they did the whole job, plus some extra, and completed the entire thing in less time than the 2.5 hour minimum - and everything survived the trip safely without issue.10/10 would hire these guys again, and recommend them to all my friends and family.
Matt Chambers
Matt Chambers
20:50 06 Jul 24
Excellent service. Showed up on time and managed everything perfectly. I highly recommend.
Jackie Debin
Jackie Debin
02:52 02 Jul 24
Movers worked fast and efficiently. Very professional. Worked quicker than expected and had us in our new place in no time! Definitely would recommend.
Justin Dorn
Justin Dorn
12:50 01 Jul 24
I was well pleased with everything that this great crew did. They were very careful with my belongings, they worked swiftly and carefully and were very gentlemanly. I can happily recommend them!
Penny Warford
Penny Warford
02:21 01 Jul 24
Mighty Might Movers saved the day!! When my movers cancelled on me just an hour before they were scheduled to show, Mighty Might Movers stepped up and helped me out. On top of that they were fantastic! Careful with my things, great communication, and they worked hard. Not to mention, they were cheaper, but way more valuable!Sam, Casey, and Orly were a great crew!Highly recommend!
Sonia Crose
Sonia Crose
00:07 29 Jun 24
The crew was amazing! The loading and unloading were so much easier than we expected. Thank you for sending such a wonderful crew!
Patricia Krueger
Patricia Krueger
09:58 20 Jun 24
Moving is never easy, but the team at Mighty Might made it a breeze! Super easy to coordinate, fair pricing, and the guys showed up on time and ready to rock. Thank you!
Rachel Nohe
Rachel Nohe
15:54 19 Jun 24