City Comparison

Memphis vs Round Rock

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Memphis

Tennessee
84
Very Affordable
$155,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$41,228
Median Income

Round Rock

Texas
101
Average
$413,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$100,500
Median Income

The Verdict

16.8%

Memphis is 16.8% less expensive than Round Rock overall. A household earning $75,000 in Memphis would need approximately $90,179 in Round Rock to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
63
Memphis
92
Round Rock
Groceries
93
Memphis
96
Round Rock
Utilities
88
Memphis
109
Round Rock
Transportation
98
Memphis
99
Round Rock
Healthcare
92
Memphis
96
Round Rock

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Memphis has the same purchasing power as $90,179 in Round Rock.

Conversely, $75,000 in Round Rock equals $62,376 in Memphis.

Living in Memphis vs Round Rock

Housing Costs

Memphis's housing index of 63 is lower Round Rock's 92, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $413,000. The $258,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,776 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Memphis compared to $1,400/mo in Round Rock, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 93 in Memphis and 96 in Round Rock. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $442/month in Memphis vs $456/month in Round Rock. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 88 in Memphis and 109 in Round Rock. Monthly utility bills average approximately $352 in Memphis vs $436 in Round Rock. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 92 in Memphis and 96 in Round Rock. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $41,228 in Memphis and $100,500 in Round Rock. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,081 and $99,505 respectively. Round Rock residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $962/month to housing in Memphis vs $2,345/month in Round Rock. In Memphis, median rent of $1,000/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Round Rock, median rent of $1,400/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 29 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Memphis is 16.8% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 101.
A $75,000 salary in Memphis has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $90,179 in Round Rock, based on the cost of living difference.
Memphis's housing index is 63 with median homes at $155,000, while Round Rock's is 92 with median homes at $413,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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