Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Seattle-Bellevue
Cost of Living Comparison
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
To match your lifestyle in Seattle-Bellevue, you'd need:
$90,348
The Verdict
Cost of Living Index
Purchasing Power
Seattle-Bellevue
To match your lifestyle in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, you'd need:
$54,025
The Bottom Line
On a $70,000 salary, you would have $7,788 more per year in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos compared to Seattle-Bellevue. You'd pay $0 less in taxes in Seattle-Bellevue, while housing costs 35% more. The cost of living in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is 26% above avg, while Seattle-Bellevue is 52% above avg, making Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos feels like earning $90,348 in Seattle-Bellevue once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Seattle-Bellevue has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Seattle-Bellevue ($22,621 vs $16,908 avg in-state tuition).
K-12 Schools
Colleges & Universities
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos or Seattle-Bellevue more expensive?
Seattle-Bellevue is more expensive with a cost of living index of 151.6 vs 126.4 (national average = 100).
What salary in Seattle-Bellevue equals $70,000 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos?
You would need to earn approximately $90,348 in Seattle-Bellevue to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.
How much is rent in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Seattle-Bellevue?
Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $22,224 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos and $30,012 in Seattle-Bellevue—housing is 35% more in Seattle-Bellevue.