Texas to Washington: Cost of Living Comparison
Moving from Texas to Washington, the cost of living is about 10.2% more expensive. To keep the same standard of living you have on $100,000 in Texas, you'd need roughly $110,196 in Washington — a raise of about $10,196.
| Texas | Washington | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (US avg = 100) | 97.1 | 107.0 |
| Salary to match $100,000 | $100,000 | $110,196 |
| Purchasing power of $100,000 | $100,000 | $90,748 |
Based on BEA 2024 Regional Price Parities (all-items). Washington is at 107.0 vs Texas at 97.1 on the national-average scale of 100.
Want to try your own salary or a different pair of states? Use the interactive cost-of-living calculator →
How the Texas → Washington comparison works
Cost of living differs from place to place because the same basket of goods, services and — above all — housing costs different amounts. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis measures this with Regional Price Parities (RPP): an index where the national average is 100. Texas sits at 97.1 and Washington at 107.0, which means everyday spending in Washington costs about 10.2% more than in Texas.
To keep the same standard of living you enjoy on $100,000 in Texas, you would need about $110,196 in Washington. Looked at the other way, if you moved with the same $100,000 paycheck, its real purchasing power once you're paying Washington prices would feel like $90,748.
Remember this is a statewide, all-items average. Your actual experience depends heavily on where exactly you live, whether you rent or own, and your lifestyle — and it doesn't account for the difference in income tax between the two states, which you can model separately in the take-home-pay tools below.
Equivalent salary at other income levels
| Your salary in Texas | Equivalent in Washington | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $55,098 | +$5,098 |
| $75,000 | $82,647 | +$7,647 |
| $100,000 | $110,196 | +$10,196 |
| $150,000 | $165,294 | +$15,294 |
| $200,000 | $220,391 | +$20,391 |
See your take-home pay in each state
Cost of living is only half the picture — income tax changes what you actually keep. Compare paychecks:
Move from Texas to another state
⚠️ Cost-of-living estimate based on BEA 2024 Regional Price Parities (all-items, statewide average). Real costs vary by city, housing and lifestyle, and this does not include the difference in state income tax. For general guidance only — not financial advice.