City comparison
Austin, TX vs Olympia, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Olympia, WA are 5.7% higher than in Austin, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in Austin, TX would need about $105,700 in Olympia, WA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,682 a month in Olympia, WA versus $1,562 in Austin, TX. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Olympia, WA and 24% in Austin, TX.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in TX and $0 in WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +9.3% moving from Austin, TX to Olympia, WA ($109,428 → $119,630), while prices change by +5.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.4% in real buying power.
- Austin, TX: price level 98.1 (about average)
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Austin, TX | Olympia, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.1 | 103.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $105,715 in Olympia | $94,594 in Austin |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,562/mo | $1,682/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,950 | $61,960 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | Seattle-Tacoma, WA |
Rent areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX MSA and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA. Metro areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Austin | Olympia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 120.4 | 116.7 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 82.0 | 91.7 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 98.1 | 103.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Austin, TX → Olympia, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.4%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
51 Fair offer
Olympia, WA → Austin, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.7%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
87 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Austin, TX is in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX pay area; Olympia, WA is in Seattle-Tacoma, WA. The last column shows what a transfer from Austin, TX to Olympia, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Austin, TX | Olympia, WA | Real change, Austin → Olympia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,457 | $69,373 | +3.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,777 | $83,935 | +3.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,023 | $100,602 | +3.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,428 | $119,630 | +3.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,311 | $141,367 | +3.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Austin, TX | Olympia, WA | Olympia pay in Austin dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,270 | $104,650 | $98,993 (+61.6%) |
| Software Developers | $134,120 | $124,060 | $117,354 (−12.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,120 | $94,470 | $89,363 (+7.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,890 | $125,020 | $118,262 (+20.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.