City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Austin | Kirkland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,549/mo | $2,250/mo | 31.2% lower in A |
| Median home value | $461,500 | $937,700 | 50.8% lower in A |
| Median household income | $86,556 | $135,608 | 36.2% lower in A |
| Groceries index | 104.2 | 111.8 | 6.8% lower in A |
| Utilities index | 102.6 | 137.6 | 25.4% lower in A |
| Transportation index | 91.7 | 120.5 | 23.9% lower in A |
| Healthcare index | 110.4 | 125.4 | 12.0% lower in A |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Austin, you'd need $132,506 in Kirkland to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Austin, TX is about 24.5% cheaper overall than Kirkland, WA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 31% lower in Austin than in Kirkland. If you earn $80,000 in Austin, you'd need about $106,005 in Kirkland to keep the same standard of living.