City comparison
Austin, TX vs Bremerton, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Bremerton, WA are 7.7% higher than in Austin, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in Austin, TX would need about $107,700 in Bremerton, WA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,562 a month in Austin, TX and $1,548 in Bremerton, WA.
- 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 Bremerton, WA ($109,428 → $119,630), while prices change by +7.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.5% in real buying power.
- Austin, TX: price level 98.1 (about average)
- Bremerton, WA: price level 105.6 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Austin, TX | Bremerton, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.1 | 105.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $107,690 in Bremerton | $92,859 in Austin |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,562/mo | $1,548/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% | 23% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,950 | $63,200 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | Seattle-Tacoma, WA |
Rent areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX MSA and Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA MSA. Metro areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Austin | Bremerton |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 120.4 | 129.6 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 82.0 | 92.0 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 98.1 | 105.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Austin, TX → Bremerton, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.1%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
46 Fair offer
Bremerton, WA → Austin, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.7%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
93 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Austin, TX is in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX pay area; Bremerton, WA is in Seattle-Tacoma, WA. The last column shows what a transfer from Austin, TX to Bremerton, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Austin, TX | Bremerton, WA | Real change, Austin → Bremerton |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,457 | $69,373 | +1.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,777 | $83,935 | +1.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,023 | $100,602 | +1.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,428 | $119,630 | +1.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,311 | $141,367 | +1.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Austin, TX | Bremerton, WA | Bremerton pay in Austin dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,270 | $102,650 | $95,320 (+55.6%) |
| Software Developers | $134,120 | $146,200 | $135,760 (+1.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,120 | $88,250 | $81,948 (−1.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,890 | $107,220 | $99,564 (+1.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.