Austin vs Seattle: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Austin, TX and Seattle, WA, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Austin, TX | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 961,855 | 733,919 |
| Median household income | $86,556 | $116,068 |
| Median home value | $551,200 | $855,600 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,608 | $1,912 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022) — SAMPLE. Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Austin, TX and Seattle, WA comes down to what you value most. Austin has the lower median home value, and Austin has the lower median rent.
Seattle has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Seattle?
- By median home value, Austin is the cheaper of the two ($551,200 vs $855,600). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Austin or Seattle?
- Median household income is $86,556 in Austin versus $116,068 in Seattle, per the US Census Bureau.