Seattle - WA vs Austin - TX: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Seattle - WA is roughly 74% more expensive than Austin - TX in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Austin - TX (60 days vs 27), suggesting more buyer leverage there. Seattle - WA sees more listings with price cuts (34.2% vs 30.1%), a sign of softening seller expectations.

Seattle vs Austin: what the numbers say

At today's 7.32% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $3,958 a month in principal and interest in Seattle and $2,277 in Austin, a gap of $1,681 a month.

Typical rent runs $2,250 in Seattle and $1,603 in Austin, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.8 times rent in Seattle and 1.4 times rent in Austin, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 26.7 years of rent in Seattle and 21.5 in Austin; the lower ratio in Austin means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved -2.9% in Seattle and -9.8% in Austin; over just the last three months the change was -0.3% in Seattle and -0.1% in Austin.

Homes sell for 99.3% of list price in Seattle and 97.3% in Austin, after 27 and 60 days on the market, with price cuts on 34% and 30% of listings. The signs are mixed: Seattle has more price cuts, while Austin has longer time on the market and sales further below list.

The number of homes for sale is up 20% on a year ago in Seattle and down 3% on a year ago in Austin.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-22), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.