F
83%
Overall NAT. AVG.
20%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
235%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Kirkland Washington National
Cost of living183118100
Goods & Services120111100
Groceries116110100
Health care138120100
Housing335135100
Transportation128123100
Utilities10292100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Kirkland, WA

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Kirkland is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Kirkland is 183, which is 83% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Kirkland may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Kirkland falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Kirkland cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 234.5% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Goods and services make up 33% of the total cost of living index score and are a large part of your everyday expenses. These items could include things like haircuts, salons, toothpaste, shampoo, clothes, movies, bowling, gym memberships or yoga. In Kirkland, you can expect to pay 19.5% more than average for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

The surge in grocery costs is indeed alarming, especially when groceries make up a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Over the past two years, there has been an inflation of over 10% in grocery prices. Unfortunately, Kirkland does not fare better, with grocery expenses coming in at 16.3% higher than the national average.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Kirkland?

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 10 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Kirkland. The feedback revealed that 0% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 100% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Kirkland Affordable?

Is Kirkland affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Kirkland, for instance, where the median home price falls 292.4% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 99.6% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Kirkland flaunting a median household income of $116,595, 110.8% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Kirkland?

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Kirkland, the housing index comes in at 234.5% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Kirkland, the groceries index is 16.3% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Kirkland cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Kirkland is 55% higher than the Washington average
  • The cost of living in Kirkland is 83% higher than the national average
  • Kirkland housing is 235% higher than the national average
  • Washington general sales tax is 27% higher than the national average
  • Washington state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Kirkland

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Compare Kirkland, WA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$145,030$12,086$3,384$4,351
      Renters$81,447$6,787$1,900$2,444
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Kirkland, WA, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Kirkland homeowners, is $145,030. This would allow for a maximum of $3,384 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $81,447 which would result in a maximum of $1,900 to be spent on rental costs.

      Washington Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Washington 6.5% 10.4%

      Washington Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Washington 0% 0%

      Goods & Services

      Item Kirkland National avg. Difference
      Haircut $50.20$24.26106.9%
      Beauty Salon $72.25$45.5658.6%
      Toothpaste $3.96$3.706.9%
      Shampoo $1.40$1.289.5%
      Movie $16.37$12.1334.9%
      Bowling $21.59$18.0019.9%

      Groceries

      Item Kirkland National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.54$5.845.1%
      Fried Chicken $2.55$1.5762.0%
      Milk $5.10$4.679.2%
      Potatoes $4.49$4.938.9%
      Pizza $14.40$12.0919.2%
      Beer $12.14$10.4116.6%

      Health Care

      Item Kirkland National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $198.49$125.6857.9%
      Doctor $236.25$135.7874.0%
      Dentist $149.39$113.2931.9%
      Ibuprofen $12.47$10.6517.0%
      Lipitor $446.40$468.604.7%

      Housing

      Item Kirkland National avg. Difference
      Home Price $724,700.00$184,700.00292.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $4,924.20$2,346.69109.8%
      Apartment Rent $1,894.00$949.0099.6%

      Transportation

      Item Kirkland National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.66$3.4634.8%
      Tire Balancing $67.20$59.9212.1%

      Utilities

      Item Kirkland National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $193.41$193.990.3%
      Phone $202.97$192.255.6%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Indianola, WA3,56413433.8%
      Boulevard Park, WA4,19713939.3%
      Kingston, WA2,83614039.6%
      Monroe, WA19,40314040.2%
      White Center, WA15,99514444.1%
      Kirkland, WA91,14618383.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Carson, CA91,35415252.1%
      Santa Barbara, CA90,911221121.3%
      Suffolk, VA91,38311212.3%
      Westminster, CA90,85716464.4%
      Tracy, CA91,46215151.1%
      Kirkland, WA91,14618383.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.