Moving from Seattle to Austin?
Seattle to Austin — both tech capitals, but TX no income tax stays vs WA capital gains, plus warmer winters and lower home prices.
- 2,150 mi Distance
- 32 hr Drive time
- 35% lower Home prices
- 228 Sun days/year
Seattle-to-Austin moves accelerated in 2022-2023 when Washington's new 7% capital gains tax (over $262K) took effect — affecting Microsoft and Amazon employees with major RSU vesting events. Texas's lack of capital gains tax made the move financially compelling for high-RSU tech workers, and Austin's tech ecosystem provided immediate career landing.
Why people move from Seattle to Austin.
- TX no capital gains tax (WA's 7% over $262K eliminated)
- Austin tech ecosystem — Apple, Tesla, Oracle, Google, Meta
- Home prices 35% lower
- Cost of living 23% lower
- Sun and warmer winters replace Seattle's gray season
- RSU-vesting strategy moves before major tech liquidity events
The money side of WA → TX.
Seattle
- Median home$850,000
- Income taxNone (7% capital gains over $262K)
- Cost index154
Austin
- Median home$550,000
- Income taxNone (TX)
- Cost index119
Things you'll want to know about your new city.
Bookmark this page — these are the icons of Austin, organized by what kind of day you're planning.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Zilker Park & Barton Springs — 350-acre urban park, 68°F natural spring pool year-round
- Lady Bird Lake — Hike-and-bike trail, kayaking, paddleboarding
- Mount Bonnell — 775-ft hill with city and Lake Austin views
- McKinney Falls State Park — Waterfalls and limestone bluffs in the city
Culture & Arts
- Texas State Capitol — Tallest state capitol building, free tours
- South by Southwest (SXSW) — Annual music/film/tech festival in March
- Austin City Limits Festival — October two-weekend music festival in Zilker Park
Family-Friendly
- Congress Avenue Bridge Bats — 1.5M Mexican free-tailed bats emerge nightly Mar-Nov
- Texas Memorial Museum — UT campus natural history museum
Nightlife & Entertainment
- 6th Street — Historic entertainment district
Austin's essential restaurants.
The dining list every Austin resident knows by heart. Save the spots, work through them.
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Franklin Barbecue BBQ East Austin
Brisket worth the 2-hour line
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Uchi Japanese South Lamar
Tyson Cole's flagship sushi
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Suerte Mexican East Austin
Heirloom corn masa, James Beard nominee
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Odd Duck New American South Lamar
Farm-to-table sharing plates
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Veracruz All Natural Tacos Multiple
Best migas tacos in town
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Uchiko Japanese Rosedale
Uchi's farmhouse sister restaurant
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Olamaie Southern Downtown
Modern interpretation of Southern classics
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Loro Asian smokehouse South Lamar
Aaron Franklin's Asian-BBQ collab
Best Austin neighborhoods for Seattle transplants.
Mapped to the Seattle neighborhoods that probably feel like home to you.
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South Congress / Bouldin
Walkable, food-and-music — closest to Capitol Hill / Ballard energy
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East Austin (78702)
Hip walkable — Fremont vibe
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Westlake Hills
Top schools, hilly — Bellevue equivalent — $1.5M+
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Mueller
Planned mixed-use urban village
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Cedar Park
Suburban, family-oriented, near Apple — $450-700K
What daily life feels like in Austin.
Climate
Humid subtropical. Hot summers (95-105°F, peaks over 110°F). Mild winters (40-65°F, occasional freezes). Spring is glorious; fall arrives late. Sun 230+ days/year. Annual rainfall 35 inches with occasional flash floods.
- Summer90-105°F
- Winter45-65°F
- Sun days/yr228
- Rainfall34 inches
Walkability
- Walk Score42/100
- Transit Score33/100
- Bike Score56/100
Austin is car-dependent — most errands require driving.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Lady Bird Lake — kayak, paddleboard, hike-and-bike trail
- Greenbelt (Barton Creek) — 7-mile urban hiking corridor
- Hill Country day trips — wine country, Hamilton Pool, Krause Springs
- Lake Travis — boating and lakeside dining
- Austin's 250+ parks system; Zilker is the crown jewel
- Cycling — over 100 miles of urban bike lanes
What changes about your daily life.
- Summer heat 100°F+ replaces Seattle's mild summers
- AC bills $300-400/month June-Sept
- Coffee culture survives but BBQ becomes part of week
- 300+ sun days (vs Seattle's 150+)
- Property tax 1.6% TX vs 0.94% WA — increase
- TX sales tax 6.25%+ vs WA's 6.5%+ — similar
How to drive there.
What it takes to move 2,150 miles.
- Full-service (3BR)$10,500-$20,000
- Container/PODS$5,500-$11,000
- DIY (26-ft truck)$3,500-$6,500
- Best monthsOctober-March (avoid TX summer heat for goods AND avoid winter Sierra/Rockies passes)
- Lead time8-12 weeks; 7-12 day delivery
USDOT-registered. Long-haul cross-country move.
Moving from Seattle to Austin: FAQ.
Capital gains move strategy from WA to TX?
Establish TX residency BEFORE major RSU vesting or stock liquidity event. WA's 7% over $262K can be avoided with bona fide TX residency at time of vest. Requires 183+ days TX, TX driver's license, voter reg, primary residence shifted. Tech workers with $1M+ vesting events save $50K-200K+ with proper execution. Consult tax attorney.
Tech salary parity Seattle vs Austin?
Senior tech roles 85-95% of Seattle for equivalent work. Austin pays slightly less in absolute terms but cost of living 23% lower. For senior Microsoft/Amazon engineers moving to Apple/Tesla Austin, net effective income often similar or better despite lower nominal salary.
Let's find the right interstate mover for your Seattle-to-Austin move.
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