F
45%
Overall NAT. AVG.
13%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
119%
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 Renton Washington National
Cost of living145118100
Goods & Services113111100
Groceries116110100
Health care115120100
Housing219135100
Transportation125123100
Utilities9792100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Renton, WA

Knowing the cost of living in Renton allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Renton stands at 145, marking it 45% higher than the national average.

If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Renton is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Renton falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Renton cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 118.7% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Recurring essentials like haircuts, toothpaste, and entertainment, from movies to gym sessions, can really add up in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Renton, you you will have to spend 13% more than average when compared to the typical prices for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

The substantial and relentless rise in grocery prices definitely warrants some attention. Over the past two years, grocery expenses have escalated by more than 10%. Having said that, the situation in Renton is even less favorable, with grocery prices here being 16% higher than the national average.

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

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 8 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Renton. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 38% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 63% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Renton Affordable?

Is Renton an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Renton is 139.6% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 69.9% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Renton has a median household income of $79,824, which is 44.3% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Renton?

Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Renton, the groceries index is 16% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Renton, the transportation index stands at 25.2% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from 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 crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Renton cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors 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 Renton is 23% higher than the Washington average
  • The cost of living in Renton is 45% higher than the national average
  • Renton housing is 119% 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 Renton

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Compare Renton, 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$105,573$8,798$2,463$3,168
      Renters$63,768$5,314$1,488$1,913
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Renton is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Renton has a median income of about $105,573 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,463 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $63,768. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,488 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Renton National avg. Difference
      Haircut $32.12$24.2632.4%
      Beauty Salon $43.48$45.564.6%
      Toothpaste $3.46$3.706.6%
      Shampoo $1.24$1.283.4%
      Movie $11.87$12.132.2%
      Bowling $17.56$18.002.5%

      Groceries

      Item Renton National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.66$5.843.0%
      Fried Chicken $2.78$1.5776.8%
      Milk $4.85$4.673.7%
      Potatoes $4.43$4.9310.3%
      Pizza $14.86$12.0922.9%
      Beer $11.77$10.4113.1%

      Health Care

      Item Renton National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $242.14$125.6892.7%
      Doctor $139.77$135.782.9%
      Dentist $164.30$113.2945.0%
      Ibuprofen $11.87$10.6511.4%
      Lipitor $448.83$468.604.2%

      Housing

      Item Renton National avg. Difference
      Home Price $442,600.00$184,700.00139.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,843.91$2,346.6921.2%
      Apartment Rent $1,612.00$949.0069.9%

      Transportation

      Item Renton National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.39$3.4626.9%
      Tire Balancing $77.69$59.9229.7%

      Utilities

      Item Renton National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $175.38$193.999.6%
      Phone $207.11$192.257.7%
      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.
      Fairwood CDP (Spokane County), WA8,05511413.7%
      Algona, WA3,20712525.0%
      Pacific, WA7,12212727.3%
      Tukwila, WA20,26512827.8%
      SeaTac, WA29,10213130.5%
      Renton, WA101,87114544.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Davenport, IA102,199928.3%
      Nanaimo, BC101,513n/a 
      Kamloops, BC101,505n/a 
      Lethbridge, AB101,384n/a 
      South Bend, IN102,6868218.2%
      Renton, WA101,87114544.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.