Cost of Living in Washington

By Alene Laney

(Last Updated – June 30,2026)

Washington state has the ninth highest cost of living in the United States, according to data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC). That’s lower than Hawaii, California, and New York, but higher than many states, including Maine and Oregon.

If you’re wondering exactly how much it’s going to cost to live in Washington, we’ve put together the most accurate, comprehensive guide possible, all backed up by data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Zillow, and other recent sources. By the end of this article, you should have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the cost of living in Washington state.

What’s the Average Cost of Living in Washington?

The average cost of living in Washington per person is $62,837 according to 2024 data compiled by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The relatively high cost of living in Washington vs. the cost of living in the U.S. as a whole is largely due to the price of housing, which can be quite high in the areas surrounding Seattle, but also due to costly transportation and health care expenses. MERIC data shows that most other cost-of-living expenses are closer to the national average (and the BEA reports that some, such as gas and energy goods, are actually lower).

When the $62,837 is broken down by category, you can see the average cost of living in Washington state for housing and utilities, health care, groceries, gas and energy goods, and all other personal expenditures. We’ve included numbers per person and for a family of four.

Source: The Bureau of Economic Analysis, Personal Consumption Expenditures by State, 2024

Housing Costs in Washington

Average Housing Costs in Washington: $1,824 (rent) to $2,445 (mortgage) per month

Washington state has over 3.4 million housing units. The median monthly rent sits at $1,824, while the average mortgage payment is $2,445. If you’re buying your first home in the state, there are down payment assistance programs available and other resources for novice buyers. Remember that you can usually qualify as a first-time homebuyer if you haven’t owned a primary residence in the last three years.

If you’re looking for housing in Washington, this is typically what you’ll find, according to the United States Census Bureau:

•  Median monthly mortgage cost: $2,445

•  Studio rent: $1,534

•  1-bedroom rent: $1,641

•  2-bedroom rent: $1,837

•  3-bedroom rent: $2,183

•  4-bedroom rent: $2,662

•   5-bedrooms or more rent: $2,681

•  Median gross rent: $1,824

Keep in mind the less expensive areas of the state are factored into the median rent and mortgage numbers. If you’re looking at high-cost areas, you can expect to pay much more, and you may need a jumbo loan to fund a home purchase.

With that in mind, it’s helpful to see what homes are worth across the state, so that you’ll have some numbers in mind when you begin to look for a home loan and go through the mortgage preapproval process. Here are 10 cities in Washington and their average home values as of June 2026.

Utility Costs in Washington

Average Utility Costs in Washington: $510 per month

Though housing costs in Washington can take a large chunk of your budget, you’ll see some utility costs close to the national average, if not a little better. Electricity, for example, comes in at an average monthly cost of $130, which is lower than New York and similar to Kentucky.

Source: Doxo Insights 2026 U.S. Household Bill Pay Report

Groceries & Beverage Spending

Average Grocery & Beverage Costs in Washington: $4,558 per year

Groceries are some of the more expensive items you’ll find in Washington. You can expect to pay more for your groceries in Washington state than you would in many other states.

According to data from the BEA, the per capita expenditure is $4,558 per year, or $380 per month.

The following is a grocery index for the major metro areas in Washington state. An index score of 100 indicates the cost is equal to the national average, so it’s pretty clear that groceries are more expensive in every city in Washington when compared with the rest of the United States.

Source: Doxo Insights 2026 U.S. Household Bill Pay Report

Transportation

Average Transportation Costs in Washington: $759 to $1,425 per month

Transportation expenses in Washington state are on the high side, as noted above, but how much you spend also depends on your family size and lifestyle. Washington residents can expect to pay the following annual costs for transportation, according to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator .

Source: MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, 2026

Health Care in Washington

Average cost of health care in Washington: $9,693 per year

Healthcare seems expensive everywhere, and Washington state is no different. The average annual per capita cost of healthcare in Washington is $9,693, which is actually a little below the United States annual average of $9,747.

Keep in mind, this number is for one person for the entire year.

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Child Care in Washington

Average Child Care Costs in Washington: $1,034 to $1,710 per child

If you have little ones still in need of full-time care, you’ll want to know what to expect when it comes to child care in Washington state. Keep in mind, as with other areas in the country, the older they get, the more affordable the tuition becomes.

Source: Costofchildcare.org

Taxes in Washington

Average taxes in Washington: $7,745 per year

One of the best perks about living in Washington state is there is no income tax or corporate income tax, which creates the environment for one of the lowest tax burdens in the U.S. Taxes include:

•  Capital gains: 7%

•  Combined state and average local sales tax: 9.51%

•  Gas tax: 59.04 cents per gallon

•  Cigarette tax: $3.025 per pack of 20 cigarettes

•  Effective property tax rate: 0.75%

Washington also charges an estate tax and a state gross receipts tax. Between all the different taxes, Washington collects around $7,745 in state and local taxes per capita.

Miscellaneous Costs

Average Miscellaneous Costs in Washington: $35,262 per year

When it comes to all other expenses in Washington, according to the BEA, most people spend around $35,262. That’s quite a lot, so where does it all go? There’s no shortage of cool things to do or businesses to support when you’re based in Washington. Some of these include:

•  Space Needle tickets: $35 for an adult

•  Museum of Flight ticket: $29 for an adult

•  Whale watching tour: $119 per person

•  Mount Rainier tour: $150 per person

•  Starbucks every morning: $6

•  Costco membership: $65

•  REI jacket: $100

•  Seattle Mariners tickets: From $22

•  Holland America Cruise from Seattle to Alaska: From $1,154

How Much Money Do You Need to Live Comfortably in Washington?

Washington state ranks as one of the least affordable states in the nation, with housing costs mostly to blame. Although the average monthly expense for one person will depend on your lifestyle and family size, MIT’s Living Wage Calculator can help give you an idea of what they expect a living wage to be in Washington state.

For example, a family of two working adults with two children can expect to live reasonably comfortably on an hourly wage of $33.87. A single person with no kids needs $26.59 per hour to live comfortably, while a single parent with two kids needs $64.59 per hour to meet their needs.

Take a look at the chart below.

Source: MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, 2026

What Major City Has the Lowest Cost of Living in Washington?

Since the cost of living in Washington state is most affected by housing costs, you’ll find the lowest cost of living in Washington in cities with less expensive housing options. Of the 10 largest cities in Washington, the cities with the lowest housing costs are:

Yakima

The average home value in this sunny, central Washington city of just under 100,000 people is a relatively affordable $363,768. The cost-of-living index is 101.8, which is well below Washington’s cost-of-living index of 114. Yakima has long been agricultural, with an especially strong apple-farming economy. But there are also more than 250 manufacturing companies here, including aircraft parts makers.

Kennewick

The average home value in this Columbia River town is $433,399 and the cost-of-living index is 95.9. Kennewick is a friendly town of just over 88,000 people. Its 300 or so days of sunshine a year and mild winters have earned it the nickname, “winter paradise.”

Spokane

The state’s second-largest city has an average home value of $400,636 and a cost-of-living index of 98.7. It also has 40 acres of riverfront park, a strong beer scene and food culture, and plenty of opportunity for outdoor adventure.

Other smaller areas throughout Washington, especially in the central and eastern regions, are more likely to have lower cost-of-living expenses as well.

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Helpful Resources for Future Washington Residents