Salary Comparison
Microbiologists: Reston vs Round Rock
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Reston, VA
$82,633/yr
Round Rock, TX
$61,730/yr
Our recommendation: Reston, VA
Reston offers $918 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite comparable pay.
Full Breakdown
Reston
Round Rock
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$82,633
$61,730
+$20,903
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$5,027
$3,755
+$1,272
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
118
101
+17 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$3,056
$2,702
+$354
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,758
$1,580
+$178
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$1,971
$1,053
+$918
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.64×
1.39×
+0.25×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
6/10 (Moderate)
5/10 (Tight)
+1
A vs B
Reston — Full Details
Round Rock — Full Details
Salary estimates based on BLS metro data. Cost of living from regional price indices. All figures are estimates; verify with employers before making decisions.