To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Austin, you'd need about $115,800 in Seattle — a $15,800 premium per year.
Estimated monthly spending for a middle-income household, adjusted by each metro's BEA price level.
The salary you'd need in Seattle to maintain the same purchasing power as each income level in Austin, using the BEA price ratio of 1.158.
| Salary in Austin | Equivalent in Seattle | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $57,900 | +$7,900 |
| $75,000 | $86,800 | +$11,800 |
| $100,000 | $115,800 | +$15,800 |
| $150,000 | $173,700 | +$23,700 |
| $200,000 | $231,600 | +$31,600 |
Moving from Austin, TX to Seattle, WA means your everyday costs are more expensive by roughly 15.8%. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis measures Austin's overall price level at 97.6 and Seattle's at 113, where 100 represents the national average. In practical terms, a household spending $4,969 per month in Austin would spend about $5,805 for the equivalent lifestyle in Seattle — a swing of $836 every month, or $10,032 per year.
Housing is the decisive factor. Estimated monthly housing runs $2,009 in Austin against $2,591 in Seattle. Because rent and mortgage costs vary far more between metros than groceries or utilities, the housing line alone accounts for most of the 15.8% gap.
For salary negotiation or a remote-work relocation, the key number is the equivalent salary. A $100,000 income in Austin has the same purchasing power as $115,800 in Seattle. Looked at the other way, $100,000 in Seattle is worth about $86,400 in Austin terms. Use the Cost of Living Calculator to plug in your own expenses.
Price levels don't include income tax, which can significantly swing your real take-home pay — especially between TX and WA.
Seattle is 15.8% more expensive than Austin overall. Based on the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2023), Austin has a price level of 97.6 versus 113 for Seattle, where 100 equals the national average.
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary in Austin, you would need about $115,800 in Seattle — a difference of $15,800 per year.
Estimated monthly housing runs about $2,009 in Austin versus $2,591 in Seattle. Housing is the single biggest driver of the cost-of-living gap between the two metros.
Sources & methodology
Price levels use the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for metropolitan areas (2023, the most recent metro-level release). Austin maps to the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX MSA; Seattle maps to the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA MSA. Category spending baselines come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Category-level figures are modeled estimates and are illustrative; actual costs vary by household. This is a planning tool, not financial advice.
