City-to-city comparison
Austin vs Seattle Cost of Living
Compare equivalent salary, rent, housing, and regional price indexes before moving from Austin, Texas to Seattle, Washington.
Quick answer
Seattle is 67.0% more expensive than Austin. A $100,000 salary in Austin needs about $167,000 in Seattle to keep similar buying power.
Moving to Seattle
Seattle's index is 172.0 versus 103.0 in Austin. Adjust salary for rent, transportation, state taxes, and health insurance before accepting an offer.
Next step
Use the full calculator to test your salary, household size, and target city in more detail.
Open calculatorFrequently asked questions
Is Seattle more expensive than Austin?
Seattle is 67.0% more expensive than Austin. The comparison uses regional price indexes where 100 equals the national average, plus local rent, housing, and income data.
What salary in Seattle equals $100,000 in Austin?
Using these indexes, $100,000 in Austin is roughly equivalent to $167,000 in Seattle.
What should I check before moving from Austin to Seattle?
Compare real neighborhood rent, state taxes, commuting, childcare, health insurance, and job stability. The index is a baseline, not a precise household budget.
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How These Results Are Calculated
Each calculator uses standard financial formulas and explicit assumptions to generate educational estimates. Results are based on your inputs and may vary based on rates, taxes, fees, and local market conditions.
- Public data sources include the IRS, BLS, Census, Federal Reserve, and state agencies.
- Calculators are reviewed periodically to reflect market and tax-rule changes.
- These results do not replace personalized professional advice.
This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed by the founder of GetAffordably. Financial data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, Federal Reserve, IRS, and other public records, and is verified periodically.