Is Austin cheaper than Seattle?

Yes. Typical rent in Austin is $1,729 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle — 15% cheaper. Median household income is $93,658 in Austin compared with $123,860 in Seattle, so Seattle has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Austin or Seattle?

Austin is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 116 in Seattle — 6% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Austin or Seattle?

School composites are close: A in Austin and A in Seattle. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Austin, TX vs Seattle, WA

Austin, TX versus Seattle, WA is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,729 a month in Austin and $2,030 in Seattle, and median household income lands at $93,658 versus $123,860. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Austin takes affordability and safety, while Seattle takes job market and weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where Seattle leads by 80% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Austin can feel further apart than Austin and Seattle do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Austin and Seattle reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Austin report Full Seattle report

Austin, TX

Rent: $1,729/mo
Median income: $93,658
Crime index: 109
Schools: A
Weather: 90°F

Seattle, WA

Rent: $2,030/mo
Median income: $123,860
Crime index: 116
Schools: A
Weather: 66°F

Rent

15% cheaper

Austin rent is 15% cheaper than Seattle

Austin

Winner

$1,729/mo

Seattle

$2,030/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,729 a month in Austin versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Austin is 15% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,612 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Austin still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Seattle.

Median income

32% higher

Seattle's median income is 32% higher than Austin

Austin

$93,658

Seattle

Winner

$123,860

What this means for your life

Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $93,658 in Austin, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Seattle — about $30,202 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Seattle is the stronger labor market on paper. Austin can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

6% lower crime

Austin's crime index is 6% lower than Seattle

Austin

Winner

109 (100 = avg)

Seattle

116 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Austin's crime index is 109 versus 116 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 6% lower in Austin. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Austin, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Seattle. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Austin and Seattle are about even on school scores.

Austin

A · 88/100

Seattle

A · 88/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A in Austin, A in Seattle). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

80% more comfortable

Seattle weather is 80% more comfortable than Austin

Austin

90°F typical

Seattle

Winner

66°F typical

What this means for your life

Seattle scores 80% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 90°F in Austin and 66°F in Seattle. Austin reads as hot, long summers; Seattle reads as mild, livable temperatures. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Seattle is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Austin can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Austin

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Austin is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,729 a month. Choose Austin if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 6% lower than Seattle (109 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Austin report →

Fit check

Who should choose Seattle

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 32% higher ($123,860), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 66°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Seattle report →

Bottom line

Austin vs Seattle, called

If weather is your priority, Seattle is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Austin pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Austin offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Austin vs Seattle FAQ

Is Austin cheaper than Seattle?: Yes. Typical rent in Austin is $1,729 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle — 15% cheaper. Median household income is $93,658 in Austin compared with $123,860 in Seattle, so Seattle has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Austin or Seattle?: Austin is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 116 in Seattle — 6% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Austin or Seattle?: School composites are close: A in Austin and A in Seattle. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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