Cost of Living in Washington (WA)
Compare costs across 8 Washington cities. From home services to salaries, see how WA stacks up against the national average.
8
Cities
120
Avg Cost Index
$67K
Avg Income
Direct Answer
Washington's average cost index is 120, which is above the national baseline of 100. Yakima is the most affordable tracked city in WA at index 88, while Seattle is the most expensive at index 172.
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive tracked cities is 84 index points, so state-level averages should be used as a map, not a final budget.
State cost overviewBLS, Census, HUD inputsLast verified May 2026
Washington Highlights: Most affordable city: Yakima (index 88). Most expensive: Seattle (index 172). The gap between cheapest and most expensive is 84 index points.
What Drives the Statewide Cost Picture?
Average index
120/100
Washington is above the national cost baseline across tracked cities.
Cheapest city
Yakima
Yakima has a cost index of 88.
Most expensive
Seattle
Seattle has a cost index of 172.
Income average
$67K
Average median household income across 8 tracked WA cities.
Cheapest and Most Expensive Cities in Washington
Washington State Taxes (2026)
Headline tax rates that affect your real take-home pay and total cost of living in Washington.
State Income Tax
0%
No income tax
Combined Sales Tax
9.23%
6.5% state + 2.73% avg local
Property Tax (Effective)
0.93%
~$2,790/yr on a $300K home
Tax friendly: Washington has no state income tax - workers keep more of their paycheck. Estate tax applies at the state level. Estimate your take-home pay
State Planning Checklist
- Start with Yakima if the priority is lowest recurring cost inside Washington.
- Compare Seattle against salary and tax advantages before assuming the higher-cost city is worse.
- Use city pages for rent, salary, insurance, and local service costs before making a relocation decision.