F
44%
Overall NAT. AVG.
20%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
103%
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 White Center Washington National
Cost of living144118100
Goods & Services120111100
Groceries116110100
Health care138120100
Housing203135100
Transportation128123100
Utilities10292100

An Overview of Cost of Living in White Center, WA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in White Center? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in White Center stands at 144, making it 44% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

The cost of living in White Center is among the highest in the country, making it a very expensive place to live. Only a small fraction of regions boast a cost of living that is at least 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, White Center falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.

Housing costs are a major factor in the White Center 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 103.4% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Recurring goods and services expenses like haircuts, toothpaste, gym memberships and movie nights are a big part of your spending and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In White Center, these items will cost you 19.5% more than what most folks pay, making it a bit more expensive to live here.

The cost of groceries continues to rise at an alarming rate. Over the last two years, grocery prices have increased by more than 10%! Unfortunately, in White Center, the news isn't any better as grocery prices are 16.3% higher than the national average.

Is White Center Affordable?

Is White Center 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 White Center is 130.2% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 41% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. White Center has a median household income of $61,750, which is 11.6% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in White Center?

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In White Center, healthcare costs are 37.6% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In White Center, the transportation index is 28.2% higher than the national average.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In White Center, the utilities index is 2.1% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The White Center 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. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in White Center is 22% higher than the Washington average
  • The cost of living in White Center is 44% higher than the national average
  • White Center housing is 103% 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 White Center

See all the best places to live around White Center

Compare White Center, 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$100,167$8,347$2,337$3,005
      Renters$40,938$3,412$955$1,228
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in White Center, WA, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In White Center, homeowners have a median income of $100,167. Using that number, a maximum of $2,337 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $40,938, which means there is a maximum of $955 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 White Center 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 White Center 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 White Center 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 White Center National avg. Difference
      Home Price $425,100.00$184,700.00130.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $4,924.20$2,346.69109.8%
      Apartment Rent $1,338.00$949.0041.0%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item White Center 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.
      Navy Yard City, WA2,97311414.3%
      Fairwood CDP (Spokane County), WA8,05511413.7%
      East Port Orchard, WA5,06912121.4%
      Bremerton, WA41,25812222.2%
      Enetai, WA1,99312322.9%
      White Center, WA15,99514444.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Rossville, MD15,99311211.7%
      Summerside, PE15,987n/a 
      Buford, GA16,0031066.5%
      Prospect Heights, IL15,98611817.9%
      Fremont, OH16,0058712.7%
      White Center, WA15,99514444.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.