| Index | Cheney | Washington | National |
| Cost of living | 113 | 119 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 107 | 100 |
| Health care | 113 | 109 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 138 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 113 | 112 | 100 |
| Household Items | 105 | 107 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 117 | 117 | 100 |

Understanding the cost of living in Cheney can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Cheney cost of living index is 113, which is 13% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.
The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 8 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Cheney. The feedback revealed that 63% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 38% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.
Is Cheney an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Cheney, the median home price is 24.6% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 0.4% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Cheney come in at $65,089, which is 20% lower than the national average.
Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.
Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Cheney, the groceries index registers 7% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as 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 with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.
The Cheney cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $130,481 | $10,873 | $3,044 | $3,915 |
| Renters | $37,746 | $3,146 | $881 | $1,132 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Washington | 6.5% | 10.4% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Washington | 0% | 0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Spangle, WA | 238 | 104 | 3.7% |
| Reardan, WA | 482 | 104 | 3.9% |
| Millwood, WA | 1,787 | 108 | 7.8% |
| Medical Lake, WA | 5,075 | 107 | 7.2% |
| Airway Heights, WA | 9,237 | 108 | 8.4% |
| Cheney, WA | 12,816 | 113 | 13.1% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Urbana, MD | 12,811 | 159 | 58.9% |
| Brighton, ON | 12,811 | n/a | |
| Bedford, OH | 12,807 | 86 | 14.1% |
| Boone, IA | 12,825 | 87 | 13.2% |
| Winnetka, IL | 12,825 | 215 | 114.9% |
| Cheney, WA | 12,816 | 113 | 13.1% |