Median rent is 7% lower in Bremerton ($1,535/mo vs $1,655/mo). Buying is cheaper in Bremerton, where the median home runs $409,500 versus $512,700. Households earn more in Austin ($91,461 vs $74,399 a year).
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Bremerton, WA
How much would you need to earn in Bremerton, WA to maintain your standard of living from Austin, TX?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Austin
Texas
Bremerton
Washington
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Bremerton at $1,535/mo compared to $1,655/mo in Austin (7% gap). Median home values are within 20% of each other: $512,700 in Austin and $409,500 in Bremerton.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Both Texas and Washington have no state income tax — a notable advantage for workers in both cities. Sales tax is 6.25% in Texas and 6.50% in Washington; Austin has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Austin
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.25%
Bremerton
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.50%
Air quality data is available for Austin (avg AQI 47.0) but not yet for Bremerton.
Pick Austin if you prioritize higher median household income ($91,461/yr).
Is Austin cheaper than Bremerton?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Austin vs Bremerton?
Median rent is $1,655/mo in Austin, TX and $1,535/mo in Bremerton, WA. Bremerton, WA has the lower rent by about 7%.
Which has higher salaries — Austin or Bremerton?
Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $74,399 in Bremerton, WA. Austin, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Austin or Bremerton?
Both Texas and Washington have no state income tax.
What salary do I need in Bremerton to match my Austin income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology