Round Rock, TX vs Denton, TX: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Denton, TX has a modeled overall cost index 7.6% higher than Round Rock, TX.

Round Rock, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$1,940 / month
Denton, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$1,845 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Round Rock, TX and Denton, TX using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $365/month in Denton, TX

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $154,383 in Denton, TX

Regional cost estimates: Round Rock, TX uses Austin, TX. Denton, TX uses Plano, TX. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 7.6%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$365
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$4.4K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Round Rock, TX

Population:130K
Cost Index:
98.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$404K

Denton, TX

Population:158K
Cost Index:
105.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$354K

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Round Rock, TX

The Lone Star State

130K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 130K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Denton, TX

The Lone Star State

158K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 158K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Round Rock, TX vs Denton, TX

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Other
↑ 15.6%
Round Rock, TX
$1,683
Denton, TX
$1,945
Difference
$262
more
Housing
↓ 4.0%
Round Rock, TX
$2,510
Denton, TX
$2,411
Difference
$99.23
less
Transportation
↑ 5.6%
Round Rock, TX
$1,241
Denton, TX
$1,311
Difference
$69.94
more
Healthcare
↑ 9.8%
Round Rock, TX
$582
Denton, TX
$639
Difference
$56.85
more
Groceries
↑ 4.4%
Round Rock, TX
$948
Denton, TX
$990
Difference
$41.41
more
All Utilities
↑ 6.4%
Round Rock, TX
$535
Denton, TX
$569
Difference
$34.05
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,540
To$1,510
↓ $30.00
1 Bed
From$1,635
To$1,575
↓ $60.00
2 Bed
From$1,940
To$1,845
↓ $95.00
3 Bed
From$2,460
To$2,320
↓ $140
Round Rock, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,510–$1,760/mo

Denton, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,400–$1,720/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Round Rock, TX
$7,865
Monthly in Denton, TX
$365
Difference

Home Values

Round Rock
Denton
$404K
Median Value
$354K
↓ -5.4%
YoY Change
↓ -4.2%
↑ +21.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +27.4%
$335K - $474K
Price Range
$273K - $402K

Homes in Denton are 12% less expensive than Round Rock

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
→ $0
Same taxes
Monthly Difference
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Round Rock, TX

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Texas State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Denton, TX

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Texas State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Round Rock, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.8%

Denton, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Round Rock
Denton
52 Moderate
Air Quality
40 Good
42.6%
Good Air Days
77.5%
98 High
Climate Risk
99 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.7°F
98 days
Heat Days >95°F
81 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.7°F
98 days
Heat Days >95°F
81 days

Before moving from Round Rock, TX to Denton, TX

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Denton, TX for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Round Rock, TX. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Round Rock to Denton moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Denton, TX by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Round Rock, TX vs Denton, TX

How do the cost estimates for Round Rock, TX and Denton, TX compare?

Denton, TX has a modeled overall cost index 7.6% higher than Round Rock, TX. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Round Rock, TX, the model estimates $154,383 in Denton, TX. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Round Rock, TX and Denton, TX?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,940/month in Round Rock, TX and $1,845/month in Denton, TX. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

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