What it actually costs to live in Washington.
Washington’s cost-of-living index sits at 120 on the MERIC composite (national average = 100), ranking #8 of 51 jurisdictions for cost. That means a standard basket of goods + services in Washington costs about 20% MORE than the US average. Median home price: $595,000. Population-weighted median rent across metros: $1,670/mo.
Washington cost components
| Component | Washington | National avg |
|---|---|---|
| COL index (basket) | 120 | 100 |
| Median home price | $595,000 | ~$420,000 |
| Median rent (pop-weighted) | $1,670/mo | ~$1,850/mo |
| Commute cost (proxy) | $223/mo | ~$185/mo |
Commute cost = avg metro commute minutes × $0.18/min × 2 trips × 22 work days. Refined BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey integration tracked for v1.
How Washington compares
Of all 51 US jurisdictions, Washington ranks #8 for cost. That puts Washington among the 10 most expensive — driven primarily by housing constraint and high-wage demand. For the live state-vs-state heat map see the interactive cost-of-living map.
Washington metros — city-level cost
State averages hide major intra-state variation. Seattle has very different housing dynamics than smaller Washington metros. Click any city for the full home affordability breakdown.
- SeattleCOL 156 · home $780,000rent $1,800/mo →
- SpokaneCOL 94 · home $310,000rent $1,050/mo →
- KennewickCOL 98 · home $325,000rent $1,200/mo →
- KentCOL 115 · home $495,000rent $1,750/mo →
- TacomaCOL 112 · home $445,000rent $1,600/mo →
- LakewoodCOL 105 · home $380,000rent $1,400/mo →
- BellinghamCOL 118 · home $545,000rent $1,650/mo →
More Washington metros coming as we expand city coverage.
Washington cost of living — common questions
What is the cost of living in Washington?
Washington's MERIC cost-of-living index is 120 (national average = 100). That means a typical basket of goods + services in Washington costs about 20% more than the US average.
What is the median home price in Washington?
Washington's state-level median home price is approximately $595,000 (Census ACS 2024). Metros vary significantly — see the top-metro list below for city-level breakdowns.
What is the median rent in Washington?
Washington's population-weighted median rent across metros in our dataset is approximately $1,670/mo. Major-metro rents typically run 30-80% above this state-level average.
Are there any Washington-specific cost-of-living quirks?
Seattle metro home prices average ~$800k (King County); WA has NO state income tax but combined sales tax in Seattle is 10.35% — among the highest in the US.
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · COL source: MERIC quarterly; home + rent: Census ACS 2024. Last verified 2026-04-19.