Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Seattle?

Austin, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,650 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Seattle, WA's $2,020, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Seattle?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $74,000 in Seattle.

Which has lower taxes, Austin or Seattle?

Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Austin vs Seattle Cost of Living 2026

Austin

Texas

$1,650/mo est.

Seattle

Washington

$2,020/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,650 in Austin, TX versus $2,020 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Austin, TX is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 25% higher in Seattle, WA. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Austin, TX

Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio

$1,348

$1,638

+22% in Seattle, WA

1 Bedroom

$1,457

$1,858

+28% in Seattle, WA

2 Bedroom

$1,776

$2,359

+33% in Seattle, WA

3 Bedroom

$2,127

$2,918

+37% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$512,700

$912,100

+78% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$91,461

$121,984

+33% in Seattle, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,950

$72,610

+27% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.5 yr

35.5 yr

+1.0 yr in Seattle, WA

Homeownership

44.4%

44.2%

+0.2 pp in Austin, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.2%

67.5%

+9.3 pp in Seattle, WA

Avg Commute

24.0 min

26.6 min

+2.6 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

475.9

787.3

+65% in Seattle, WA

Property Crime

3,290.2

5,107.9

+55% in Seattle, WA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

67.2°F

53.5°F

+13.7°F in Austin, TX

Annual Precipitation

34.9 in

37.7 in

+2.8 in in Seattle, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.96/gal

$5.77/gal

+46% in Seattle, WA

Area: Texas vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

$2.75

+120% in Seattle, WA

Adult base one-way fare — CapMetro vs King County Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

14.4

+12% in Austin, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.61

$17.32

+30% in Austin, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.37

+5% in Seattle, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$2.10

+21% in Seattle, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.25

+3% in Seattle, WA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$7.23

+10% in Seattle, WA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.14

+12% in Seattle, WA

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.74

+21% in Seattle, WA

Average prices — South vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / WA)

6.25%

6.5%

+0.3 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Austin vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Seattle?: Austin, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,650 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Seattle, WA's $2,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Seattle?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Austin or Seattle?: Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).