Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Tacoma?

Tacoma, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $53,000 in Tacoma.

Which has lower taxes, Austin or Tacoma?

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

Austin vs Tacoma Cost of Living 2026

Austin

Texas

$1,660/mo est.

Tacoma

Washington

$1,500/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,660 in Austin, TX versus $1,500 in Tacoma, WA. Overall, Tacoma, WA is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Austin, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $83,857 in Tacoma, WA — about 8% higher in Austin, TX. 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

Tacoma, WA

Rent

Studio

$1,348

$1,178

+13% in Austin, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,457

$1,332

+9% in Austin, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,776

$1,693

+5% in Austin, TX

3 Bedroom

$2,127

$2,094

+2% in Austin, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$512,700

$454,600

+11% in Austin, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$91,461

$83,857

+8% in Austin, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,950

$72,610

+27% in Tacoma, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.5 yr

37.3 yr

+2.8 yr in Tacoma, WA

Homeownership

44.4%

56.5%

+12.1 pp in Tacoma, WA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.2%

33.5%

+24.7 pp in Austin, TX

Avg Commute

24.0 min

29.0 min

+5.0 min in Tacoma, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

476.1

1,064.4

+124% in Tacoma, WA

Property Crime

3,290.7

5,695.2

+73% in Tacoma, 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

52.1°F

+15.1°F in Austin, TX

Annual Precipitation

34.9 in

43.0 in

+8.1 in in Tacoma, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.12/gal

+42% in Tacoma, WA

Area: Texas vs Washington.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

14.9

+9% in Austin, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$20.41

+33% in Austin, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Tacoma, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Tacoma, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Austin, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Tacoma, WA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Tacoma, WA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Tacoma, 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 Tacoma — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Tacoma?: Tacoma, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Tacoma?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $53,000 in Tacoma.
Which has lower taxes, Austin or Tacoma?: Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Tacoma 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).