By Alene Laney

(Last Updated – November 11,2024)

Washington state has the seventh highest cost of living in the United States, according to data from MERIC, the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. That’s behind Hawaii, California, and New York, but ahead of states like New Jersey 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, Zillow, and other recent sources of data. 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 $60,528 according to 2023 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 will be close to the national average (some, like utilities, are even lower).

When the $60,528 is broken down by category, you can see the average cost of living in Washington state for housing, utilities, health care, groceries, transportation, and all other personal expenditures. We’ve included numbers per person and for a family of four.

Housing Costs in Washington

Average Housing Costs in Washington: $1,731 (rent) to $2,396 (mortgage)

Washington state has over 3.2 million housing units. The median monthly rent sits at $1,731, while the average mortgage payment is $2,396. 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 have not 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: $2,396

•  Studio rent: $1,442

•  1-bedroom rent: $1,533

•  2-bedroom rent: $1,752

•  3-bedroom rent: $2,002

•  4-bedroom rent: $2,401

•   5-bedrooms or more rent: $2,499

•  Median gross rent: $1,731

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.

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 homes values as of August 31, 2024.

Utility Costs in Washington

Average Utility Costs in Washington: $346 per month

Though housing costs in Washington can take a large chunk of your budget, you’ll see utility costs close to the national average, if not a little better. Electricity, for example, comes in at an average monthly cost of $107, which is lower than California and similar to Oregon.

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price, 2021; Inspirecleanenergy.com; DoxoInsights, U.S. Cable & Internet Market Size and Household Spending Report 2022; and Rentcafe.com, What Is the Average Water Bill?

Groceries & Food

Average Grocery & Food Costs in Washington: $4543 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 $4,543 per year, or $379 per month.

The following is a grocery index for the major metro areas in Washington state. An index score of 100 indicates a 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.

Transportation

Average Transportation Costs in Washington: $828 to $1,387 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 costs for transportation, according to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator .

Health Care in Washington

Average cost of health care in Washington: $9,013 per year

Healthcare seems expensive everywhere, and Washington state is no different. The average annual per capita cost of healthcare in Washington is $9,013, which is actually a little below the annual average of $9,130 in the United States.

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

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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.

Taxes in Washington

Average taxes in Washington: $6,069

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.

•  Captital gains: 7%

•  Combined state and average local sales tax: 9.38%

•  Gas tax: 52.82 cents per gallon

•  Cigarette tax: $3.025

•  Effective property tax rate: .76%

Washington also charges an estate tax and a state gross receipts tax. Between all the different taxes, Washington collects around $6,644 in taxes per capita.

Miscellaneous Costs

Average of miscellaneous costs in Washington: $34,041 per year

When it comes to all other expenses in Washington, most people spend right around $32,089, according to the BEA. 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: $29 to $46.50

•  Museum of Flight ticket: $26

•  Whale watching tour: $105

•  Mount Rainier tour: $195

•  Starbucks every morning: $4

•  Costco membership: $65

•  REI jacket: $100

•   Seattle mariners tickets: From $24

•  Holland America Cruise from Seattle to Alaska: $1,274

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 four can expect to live reasonably comfortably on an hourly wage of $30.94 if there are two wage earners in the home. A single person with no kids needs $25.60 per hour to live comfortably, while a single parent with two kids needs $56.89 per hour to meet their needs.

Take a look at the chart below.

What 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 $343,372. The cost of living index is 99.8, putting Yakima just at the edge of the average cost for Washington. Yakima has long been agricultural, with a strong apple-farming economy, especially. 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 $432,558 and the cost of living index is 98. Kennewick is a friendly town of just over 80,000 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 $417,086 and a cost of living index of 101. 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.

Recommended: Different Types of Mortgage Loans

Helpful Resources for Future Washington Residents

By Lauren Ward

(Last Updated – November 4, 2024)

The cost of living in South Carolina is lower compared to many other parts of the country. It’s no wonder the state has one of the country’s highest influxes of new residents moving in. With coastal beaches in the east and mountain peaks in the west, South Carolina definitely has lots of reasons for its booming popularity. If you’re thinking about moving to South Carolina, find out what to expect for a variety of living costs.

What’s the Average Cost of Living in South Carolina?

Average Cost of Living in South Carolina: $46,220 per year

South Carolina is the 27th cheapest state to live in, according to Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC ) data gathered in 2024. It’s slightly less expensive than its neighbor North Carolina. On the MERIC index, 100 represents the average cost of living across the U.S.; South Carolina scores a 95.5, indicating it is below average.

The annual average cost of living in South Carolina is $46,220, according to Bureau of Economic Analysis data from 2022. That comes to just over $3,851 per month and can be broken down into the following spending categories:

Housing Costs in South Carolina

Average Housing Costs in South Carolina: $1,008 to $1,864 per month

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, South Carolina has over 2.4 million housing units as of 2023. And data from Zillow estimates the state’s typical home value to be just shy of $300,000 — so you likely won’t need a jumbo loan for buying a regular house in most parts of the state. But the amount you can expect to pay each month does vary depending on whether you purchase your property with a home loan or rent an apartment or house.

Here is what to expect in terms of housing cost of living in South Carolina per month, based on median prices for different living situations.

•  Studio rent: $1,017

•  1-bedroom rent: $1,008

•  2-bedroom rent: $1,018

•  3-bedroom rent: $1,134

•  4-bedroom rent: $1,376

•  5-bedroom rent: $1,864

•   Median gross rent: $1,084

Wondering how buying your first home in South Carolina stacks up against other areas? Here’s the typical home price in 10 major U.S. cities to see how the Palmetto State compares to the cost of living in other areas of the U.S. (Spoiler alert: South Carolina is the cheapest out of all these areas).

Utility Costs in South Carolina

Average Utility Costs in South Carolina: $383.87

When combined all together, utilities can account for a large percentage of your cost of living each month. Here’s how expenses break down for each category.

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration , Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price, 2022; Statista; DoxoInsights , U.S. Cable & Internet Market Size and Household Spending Report 2023; Rentcafe.com,What Is the Average Water Bill? June 2024.

Groceries & Food

Average Grocery & Food Costs in South Carolina: $1,401 per month

How much can you expect to spend on food each month in South Carolina? Without counting going out to eat, the average family of four spends $1,401 each month, according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Consequently, the average monthly expense for one person would be around $350 for food and groceries.

Grocery costs vary among individual communities in South Carolina. Here’s how four major population centers stack up against an index of 100. As noted above, the index is the state average; numbers over 100 are more expensive than other areas of the state, while lower scores are less expensive.

Transportation

Average Transportation Costs in South Carolina: $10,477 to $17,554 per year

Transportation is an important cost to factor into your budget, whether you live in one of South Carolina’s bigger cities like Charleston and Columbia, or in more rural areas like Calhoun and Greenville Counties. This 2024 data from MIT’s Living Wage Calculator gives you a sense of average transportation costs each year based on family size.

Health Care

Average Health Care Costs in South Carolina: $6,677 per year

South Carolina residents can expect to pay $6,677 per person each year for health care costs. That’s nearly 20% lower than the national average of $8,331, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. When you’re looking at the best afforable places in the U.S., South Carolina definitely stands out for health care costs.

Here’s how annual medical expenses vary by family size, according to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator.

Child Care

Average Child Care Costs in South Carolina: $741 to $1,138 more per month and per child

According to CostofChildCare.org , you can plan to pay anywhere between $741 and $1,138 per month for each child. Costs are highest for infants and tend to drop once your child is old enough to enter a toddler or preschool classroom. Home-based family care is the most expensive option after infant classroom care.

Taxes

Highest Marginal Tax Rate in South Carolina: 6.4%

Like slightly more than half the states, South Carolina has a graduated-rate income tax. The highest earners in the state pay 6.4% in income tax, according to the Tax Foundation . That tax rate is in addition to federal income tax.

For comparison, California has the highest state income tax bracket of 13.3%, while states such as Texas, Florida, and Nevada don’t have any income tax at all.

RecommendedP: Down Payment Assitance Programs

Miscellaneous Costs

Average Miscellaneous Costs in South Carolina: $24,932 per year

The Bureau of Economic Analysis places a nearly $25,000 price tag on “other personal expenditures” for South Carolinians. But that can vary a lot depending on your hobbies and interests. Hiking, for instance, is much cheaper than golfing.

Here are some example costs for popular attractions throughout the state of South Carolina (costs are as of September 2024):

•  Beach access: $0 when you go to one of the several free public beach parks in Hilton Head

•  A round of golf: Starts at $305 for a Sunday tee time at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort

•  Hiking around the Blue Ridge Mountains: Climb to the Blue Ridge Escarpment at Caesars Head State Park with trail access fees ranging from $1 to $3

•  White water rafting: A guided white water rafting tour starts at $59.95 per person.

How Much Money Do You Need to Live Comfortably in South Carolina?

The amount of money you need based on the cost of living in South Carolina depends on factors such as your lifestyle and family size. According to U.S. News & World Report’s Affordability Rankings , South Carolina ranks #21 for overall affordability and #23 for cost of living. That places it directly between Wisconsin and Michigan, so if you prefer milder weather, South Carolina is a solid bet for affordable living. Plus, the state is home to both the Atlantic Coast and the Blue Ridge Mountains, and you’ll be conveniently situated for plenty of East Coast travel opportunities. Remember that if you might qualify as a first-time homebuyer, you may be eligible for special mortgage programs in the state.

What City Has the Lowest Cost of Living in South Carolina?

The cost of living in South Carolina varies depending on what area you settle down in. Here are three of the more affordable areas that aren’t too rural, based on 2024 data from the Council for Community and Economic Research’s Cost of Living Index.

Aiken

Located in the western portion of the state, Aiken has a cost of living index score of just 83.7, making living expenses well below the national average. Although it’s considered a suburb of Augusta, there are lots of outdoors activities in Aiken, including Hitchcock Woods — one of the country’s largest urban forests.

Employment industries include energy, banking, transportation, and health care. Some of the largest employers in the area are Savannah Riversite, SRP Federal Credit Union, Bridgestone, UPS Customs Brokerage, and Medac.

According to Zillow, the average home value in Aiken is $258,917 and has increased almost 2% since the previous year.

Columbia

Centrally located in South Carolina, Columbia scores 92 on the cost of living index. The newly revitalized downtown area hosts a variety of festivals throughout the year and is home to the Soda City Market. As the state capital, the government is the city’s largest employer, followed by health and insurance companies, the University of South Carolina, and the U.S. Department of the Army.

This economic growth is reflected in growing property values. Columbia’s average home value is around $230,000, based on Zillow data. While that’s lower than Aiken, the annual increase is over 4%, indicating a strong potential for Columbia’s future growth in home values.

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Spartanburg

Spartanburg is another top affordable city, located in the state’s northwest corner with a cost of living index score of 92.1. While it’s just over an hour away from both Asheville and Charlotte, North Carolina, there’s also plenty to do at home in Spartanburg. The BMW Zentrum Museum in nearby Greer is perfect for auto enthusiasts, while nature lovers will appreciate the trails at Croft State Park.

Major area employers include BMW Manufacturing Co., Clemson University, Greenville County Schools, and Michelin. Home values average $221,000 and have increased in recent months.

Helpful Resources for Future South Carolina Residents