CITY COMPARISON
Seattle vs Austin Cost of Living: Which Is Cheaper in 2026?
Data updated May 2026. Rent from Zillow ZORI, taxes from the Tax Foundation, cost-of-living index from BEA.
Seattle to Austin is a move between two no-income-tax tech hubs, so the usual tax question is off the table. Neither Washington nor Texas taxes wage income.
That puts cost of living front and center. Austin's overall cost of living and rent sit below Seattle's. Seattle offers a cooler climate and access to the Pacific Northwest outdoors.
Is Seattle or Austin cheaper to live in?
At a $100,000 salary, moving from Seattle to Austin frees up roughly $11,400 a year in disposable income. At $150,000 the gap widens to about $11,400 a year in Austin's favor.
Austin wins on cost. With no income tax in either city, the deciding numbers are rent and cost of living, and both are lower in Austin. Seattle competes on climate and on the depth of its big-tech job market, not on price.
DISPOSABLE INCOME: MOVING SEATTLE → AUSTIN
AT A $100,000 SALARY
in Austin's favor
AT A $150,000 SALARY
in Austin's favor
Assumes the same gross salary in both cities (the remote-work case) and a single filer renting at the local median. Positive means Austin leaves more money after tax, housing, and everyday costs.
Full cost breakdown: Seattle vs Austin
Here is where every dollar goes in each city, at two salary levels. Taxes, housing, and everyday costs are all in.
AT A $100,000 SALARY
| Line item | Seattle | Austin |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax | -$15,000 | -$15,000 |
| State income tax (0%) | -$0 | -$0 |
| FICA (Social Security + Medicare) | -$7,650 | -$7,650 |
| Housing (median rent) ($1,720/mo) Austin: ($1,250/mo) | -$20,640 | -$15,000 |
| Other living costs (COL index 153) Austin: (COL index 119) | -$37,950 | -$32,850 |
| Sales tax on spending (9.4%) Austin: (8.2%) | -$2,497 | -$1,886 |
| Disposable income / year | $16,263 | $27,614 |
AT A $150,000 SALARY
| Line item | Seattle | Austin |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| Federal income tax | -$27,000 | -$27,000 |
| State income tax (0%) | -$0 | -$0 |
| FICA (Social Security + Medicare) | -$11,475 | -$11,475 |
| Housing (median rent) ($1,720/mo) Austin: ($1,250/mo) | -$20,640 | -$15,000 |
| Other living costs (COL index 153) Austin: (COL index 119) | -$37,950 | -$32,850 |
| Sales tax on spending (9.4%) Austin: (8.2%) | -$2,497 | -$1,886 |
| Disposable income / year | $50,438 | $61,789 |
Seattle vs Austin: taxes, rent, and schools at a glance
| Metric | Seattle | Austin |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax | None | None |
| Median 1-bedroom rent | $1,720/mo | $1,250/mo |
| Combined sales tax | 9.4% | 8.2% |
| Cost-of-living index (US avg = 100) | 153 | 119 |
| School composite rating (1-10) | 6/10 | 7/10 |
Who should pick Seattle?
Pick Seattle if you want the Pacific Northwest, a cooler climate, and proximity to the largest tech employers. You pay more in rent and cost of living, but for some careers the employer concentration is worth it.
Who should pick Austin?
Choose Austin if you want a no-income-tax tech hub that costs less to live in. Lower rent and a lower cost of living mean more of your paycheck stays yours, and the tech scene is real.
How we calculated this
Disposable income is gross salary minus federal income tax, state income tax, FICA, housing, everyday non-housing costs, and sales tax on discretionary spending. Federal tax uses 2026 effective rates after the standard deduction for a single filer. State income tax is a single-bracket approximation for mid-six-figure earners. Housing is the median 1-bedroom rent. Non-housing costs scale with the BEA cost-of-living index. Sales tax is applied to roughly 70 percent of discretionary spending, since groceries and many services are reduced-rate or exempt in most states.
The numbers on this page assume the same gross salary in both cities. That is the remote-work scenario, and it is the cleanest way to isolate the cost-of-living difference. If a new job would rebase your salary by city, plug both real offers into the tool below.
Run your own Seattle vs Austin numbers
The interactive Move-To-City tool lets you set different salaries for each city, enter your actual rent, switch filing status, and see the full FIRE-timeline impact of the move.
Open the Move-To-City tool →KEEP READING
Educational only, not financial advice. Cost-of-living estimates are modeled approximations from public data and will not match any individual budget exactly. Verify rent, tax, and salary figures for your own situation before making a move.