Seattle vs. Austin: cost of living comparison
A side-by-side breakdown of what it actually costs to live in Seattle and Austin in 2026 — housing, taxes, salaries, and family expenses — sourced from FuturePath City Intelligence.
Seattle, WA
Austin, TX
Side-by-side comparison
| Metric | Seattle | Austin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent (monthly) | $2,350 | $1,700 | +$650 |
| Median home price | $780K | $545K | +$235K |
| Median salary | $110,000 | $92,000 | +$18,000 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.251% | 0.225% | +0.025999999999999995% |
| Mortgage burden | 44.1% | 32.1% | +12% |
| Childcare (monthly) | $1,850 | $1,450 | +$400 |
| School quality (0–10) | 82 | 82 | — |
| Overall score | 78 | 88 | -10 |
Seattle's median rent is 38% higher than Austin's, and home prices show a similar gap. Austin buyers face a lighter mortgage burden overall.
Neither state has a personal income tax, but Seattle's effective burden (0.251%) differs from Austin's (0.225%) once sales and property taxes are layered in.
Seattle median pay is 20% above Austin, driven by big-tech density. Housing usually eats most of the premium unless you're at a top employer.
Austin scores 84 vs Seattle's 76 on family well-being. Seattle wins on public schools and transit; Austin wins on childcare cost and space.
Run your own Seattle vs. Austin move
Simulate a real relocation with your salary, savings, and household. FuturePath models the after-tax reality — not just the sticker price.