Seattle vs Austin
Seattle, WA · Austin, TX
Austin is 22% cheaper than Seattle overall.
Home Price
Seattle: $780,000
Austin: $500,000
Monthly Rent
Seattle: $1,800/mo
Austin: $1,300/mo
COL Index
Seattle: 156
Austin: 121
Median Income
Seattle: $102,900
Austin: $83,800
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Seattle has the same purchasing power as $77,564 in Austin — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Austin cost 36% more (-$280,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Austin saves you $500/month — $6,000 per year. Median rent: $1,800/mo in Seattle vs $1,300/mo in Austin.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Seattle owners pay roughly $7,176/year in property taxes vs $9,000/year in Austin. That's a $1,824 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $102,900 in Seattle and $83,800 in Austin. Austin residents earn 19% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 30 minutes in Seattle vs 27 minutes in Austin. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Seattle to Austin, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Seattle | Equivalent in Austin | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $38,782 | -$11,218 |
| $75,000 | $58,173 | -$16,827 |
| $100,000 | $77,564 | -$22,436 |
| $150,000 | $116,346 | -$33,654 |
| $200,000 | $155,128 | -$44,872 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
See monthly payments for homes in either city
Rent vs Buy
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in these markets?
Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
Project future home value growth
Affordability Calculator
How much home can you afford?
Property Tax Calculator
Estimate taxes in Seattle or Austin
Seattle Calculators
Austin Calculators
Related Comparisons
Seattle vs Austin: Common Questions
Is Seattle or Austin cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Austin is cheaper overall. Seattle has a COL index of 156 while Austin scores 121 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Seattle and Austin?
The median home price in Seattle is $780,000 vs $500,000 in Austin — a difference of $280,000 (36%).
What salary do I need in Austin to match my Seattle income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Seattle is equivalent to $77,564 in Austin in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Seattle has a lower property tax rate (0.92% vs 1.8%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $7,176/year vs $9,000/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.