CostIndexUSA

Austin, TX vs Mount Vernon, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Austin
98.1
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
WA
Mount Vernon
102.4
overall index
$2,125/mo rent

Austin is slightly cheaper than Mount Vernon — 4.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Austin, you would need $83,500 in Mount Vernon. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing10.1%
Austin
120.4
Mount Vernon
108.2
🛒 Groceries+11.9%
Austin
93.8
Mount Vernon
105
🚗 Transportation+3.3%
Austin
101.1
Mount Vernon
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+3.4%
Austin
91.4
Mount Vernon
94.5
Utilities+17.1%
Austin
82
Mount Vernon
96

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Austin to see what you'd need to earn in Mount Vernon to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Mount Vernon, WA
$83,500
$3,500 more needed in Mount Vernon

Formula: salary × (102.4 ÷ 98.1) = salary × 1.0438. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Austin, TX

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
120.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.6×

Mount Vernon, WA

Median Home Price
$567,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,125
Housing Index
108.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.2×

Austin has 10.1% lower housing costs compared to Mount Vernon.

Income & Job Market

Austin, TX

Median Household Income
$98,500
Per Capita Income
$56,100
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
978,908
Top Industries
TechnologyGovernmentHealthcareEducationEntertainment

Mount Vernon, WA

Median Household Income
$91,200
Per Capita Income
$52,000
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
36,727
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailTourism

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Austin, TX
5.3×income-to-rent ratio

81% of income left after rent (median)

Mount Vernon, WA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.