A-
6%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
20%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Kennewick Washington National
Cost of living106118100
Goods & Services98110100
Groceries107108100
Health care105109100
Housing120138100
Transportation120123100
Utilities8297100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Kennewick, WA

The cost of living in Kennewick affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Kennewick is 106, which is 6% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

The cost of living in Kennewick closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Kennewick can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

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

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 20 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Kennewick. The results indicated that 55% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 45% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is Kennewick Affordable?

Is Kennewick 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 Kennewick, the median home price is 28.7% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 0.8% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Kennewick come in at $91,897, which is 13% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Kennewick?

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.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Kennewick, healthcare costs are 4.5% higher than the national average.

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 Kennewick, the groceries index registers 7.2% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Kennewick 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.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Kennewick is 10% lower than the Washington average
  • The cost of living in Kennewick is 6% higher than the national average
  • Kennewick housing is 20% 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 Kennewick

See all the best places to live around Kennewick

Compare Kennewick, 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$119,803$9,984$2,795$3,594
      Renters$53,986$4,499$1,260$1,620
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Kennewick, WA, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Kennewick, the median monthly income is $119,803 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $2,795 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $53,986, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $1,260 on monthly rental expenses.

      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 Kennewick National avg. Difference
      Haircut $22.40$27.6218.9%
      Beauty Salon $39.73$51.1122.3%
      Toothpaste $4.04$4.091.3%
      Shampoo $1.42$1.547.9%
      Movie $9.99$12.8822.4%
      Yoga $11.40$19.6642.0%

      Groceries

      Item Kennewick National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $8.34$7.708.2%
      Fried Chicken $3.54$1.66113.0%
      Milk $4.69$4.730.9%
      Potatoes $4.45$5.2615.3%
      Pizza $11.99$12.766.1%
      Beer $11.83$10.5512.1%

      Health Care

      Item Kennewick National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $138.35$140.061.2%
      Doctor $193.81$153.8226.0%
      Dentist $129.47$123.155.1%
      Ibuprofen $11.94$11.731.8%
      Lipitor $18.22$23.6122.8%

      Housing

      Item Kennewick National avg. Difference
      Home Price $420,441.00$326,622.0028.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,203.84$2,480.2511.1%
      Apartment Rent $1,432.00$1,444.000.8%

      Transportation

      Item Kennewick National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.77$3.0623.4%
      Tire Balancing $72.86$65.2111.7%

      Utilities

      Item Kennewick National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $147.70$220.1232.9%
      Phone $209.04$195.716.8%
      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.
      Wallula, WA155936.9%
      Benton City, WA3,515982.2%
      Finley, WA6,0021044.1%
      Pasco, WA76,8211065.5%
      Burbank, WA3,6311066.5%
      Kennewick, WA84,4741066.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Pine Hills, FL84,582963.9%
      Atascocita, TX84,3371077.3%
      Cicero, IL84,3201043.8%
      Westland, MI84,673945.7%
      Medford, OR84,27111515.2%
      Kennewick, WA84,4741066.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.