Cost of Living in Washington

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to easily compare the cost of living in your current location to the cost of living in a new location. We use the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and salary differentials of over 300+ US cities to give you a comparison of costs and salary. Let us help you make an informed decision about what it will cost to live and work in the city of your dreams!
About Washington    Washington (/ˈwɒʃɪŋtən/), officially the State of Washington, is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Washington is the north....More
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour while Washington's state law sets the minimum wage rate at $16.28 per hour in 2024. Demands for a living wage that is fair to workers have resulted in numerous location-based changes to minimum wage levels. View future changes in the minimum wage in your location by visiting Minimum Wage Values in Washington
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Cost of Living by Cities in Washington


Cost of Living by Major Cities

Click to see the cost of living for these major U.S. cities.

San Francisco, CA
Washington, DC
Miami, FL
Chicago, IL
Boston, MA
New York, NY
Dallas, TX

If you'd like to know the cost of living in other cities, then please select a city in

Cost of Living Index in Major Cities of Washington

A comparison of the Cost of Living indexes across major Washington Cities compared to the national average. The calculations are based on the total cost of energy, food, healthcare, housing and transportation, among other factors.

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City, State Compared to national average
City, State Seattle, Washington Compared to national average
+ 36.7%
City, State Spokane, Washington Compared to national average
-4.5%
City, State Tacoma, Washington Compared to national average
+ 12.5%
City, State Vancouver, Washington Compared to national average
+ 25.2%
City, State Bellevue, Washington Compared to national average
+ 36.7%
City, State Everett, Washington Compared to national average
+ 24.7%
City, State Kent, Washington Compared to national average
+ 12.3%
City, State Yakima, Washington Compared to national average
-0.8%
City, State Renton, Washington Compared to national average
+ 36.6%
City, State Auburn, Washington Compared to national average
+ 12.5%
City, State Bellingham, Washington Compared to national average
+ 10.9%
City, State Bremerton, Washington Compared to national average
+ 16.0%
City, State Federal Way, Washington Compared to national average
+ 12.5%
City, State Kennewick, Washington Compared to national average
-1.3%
City, State Lacey, Washington Compared to national average
+ 10.6%
City, State Lakewood, Washington Compared to national average
+ 12.5%
City, State Marysville, Washington Compared to national average
+ 24.7%
City, State Olympia, Washington Compared to national average
+ 10.6%
City, State Pasco, Washington Compared to national average
-1.8%
City, State Richland, Washington Compared to national average
-1.1%



About Washington

Washington (/ˈwɒʃɪŋtən/), officially the State of Washington, is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Washington is the northwestern-most state of the contiguous United States. It borders Idaho to the east, bounded mostly by the meridian running north from the confluence of the Snake River and Clearwater River (about 116°57' west), except for the southernmost section where the border follows the Snake River. Oregon is to the south, with the Columbia River forming the western part and the 46th parallel forming the eastern part of the Oregon-Washington border. To the wes...
Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/17/2019). Read more from Wikipedia


Comments about the Cost of Living in Washington

Buying a home and the cost of living

If you want to buy a home in the beautiful state of Washington, you will find that it is one of the highest residential home markets in the country. Purchasing a home can be a lengthy and complex process. Besides the down payment, which is usually 15-20% of the selling price, there will be closing costs. If you own a home in your former location the sale of that home needs to be completed as well. Once you have purchased and moved into your new home, there will be utility and maintenance costs as well as property taxes and home insurance that will contribute to your cost of living. The advantages of living in Washington are many, but the high cost of buying a home is not one of them. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

Washington is a tax-friendly state with a low cost of living for some.

Washington has no state income tax! This means that if you work in Washington, your paycheck will be free of taxes other than the federal income taxes. The absence of state income tax will make your take-home pay higher and provide more income for the basic cost of living purchases. Washington does, however, have a statewide 6.5% sales tax. There may be additional local sales or use taxes up to 3% depending on where you live. Those living near the border with Oregon, can take a short trip and take advantage of Oregon’s tax-free shopping. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

Healthcare access and affordability and your cost of living

Washington is ranked number 20 out of all states in overall healthcare access and affordability. Healthcare costs make up a significant part of the cost of living. The ability to afford healthcare as well as the ability to access care are key indicators of how much you will be paying for this important resource if you move to another state. Affordability is generally measured by the rates set for insurance coverage in a state, as well as the out-of-pocket expenses that need to be paid by you when receiving the care. If rates or out-of-pocket expenses are high, your cost of living will increase. Access to healthcare is how easy or difficult it may be to receive the care. Access is measured by identifying barriers that might prevent the delivery of care such as the inability to obtain insurance coverage, having to travel long distances to health care centers and lack of sufficient facilities and/or healthcare professionals. The timeliness of care, how fast you can get to see a healthcare provider, is another important measure. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )


Cost of Living Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Cost of Living index and how is it used?

In the simplest terms, a Cost of Living index is the estimated amount that represents the cost of the basic necessities required for an individual to live. A cost of living or COL estimate may typically include estimates for housing, food, energy, medical care, transportation, taxes, and other necessities. A COL index may be used to measure what the cost difference would be for a person living in a certain location compared to another location. This cost of living comparison helps individuals make decisions about where they would like to live and what they can afford based on the costs in that location. A cost of living comparison can provide guidance about how an increase or decrease in these basic living expenses impacts necessary spending for an individual or a family. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

What factors are included in estimating your cost of living?

The Salary.com cost of living calculator estimate is based on data related to five general categories: housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and energy. These are the universally recognized core components of any cost of living estimate and represent those expenses that apply to everyone. Obviously, there may be other factors that could contribute to your particular cost of living situation and not everyone has the same spending habits. For example, education and/or childcare costs might not apply to everyone, but for those who have those expenses, they could be significant and should be considered when you evaluate your cost of living comparison. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )

The Salary.com cost of living calculator is unique in that it also incorporates current salary data for thousands of jobs specific to a chosen home or work location to provide a more refined estimate of the cost of living variations. You can see how your job and your salary will be impacted by a change of location. If you live in one location but work in another, the cost of living calculator will make those adjustments to provide an accurate estimate of the change in COL. The Salary.com cost of living calculator helps you to make cost of living comparisons cost comparisons easily and quickly. ( 2024-04-24 salary.com )


Last Update: 2024-04-24