A
3%
Overall NAT. AVG.
3%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
2%
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 Moses Lake Washington National
Cost of living103118100
Goods & Services103111100
Groceries107110100
Health care117120100
Housing102135100
Transportation123123100
Utilities7892100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Moses Lake, WA

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Moses Lake 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 Moses Lake is 103, which is 3% 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.

The cost of living in Moses Lake aligns closely with the national average when compared to other cities across the nation. Everyday essentials such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utility bills are priced at a level consistent with the average in similar urban areas. Moses Lake residents can anticipate that their daily expenses won't be significantly higher than those in an average city, ensuring that the cost of living remains manageable.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Moses Lake?

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 10 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Moses Lake. The results indicated that 30% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 70% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is Moses Lake Affordable?

Is Moses Lake affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Moses Lake, the median home price is 1.8% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 1.7% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Moses Lake boasting a median household income of $60,136, 8.7% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Moses Lake?

Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Moses Lake, the housing index stands at 1.8% higher than the national average.

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Moses Lake, the groceries index is 6.6% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Moses Lake, the transportation index is 23.3% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Moses Lake 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 Moses Lake is 12% lower than the Washington average
  • The cost of living in Moses Lake is 3% higher than the national average
  • Moses Lake housing is 2% 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 Moses Lake

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Compare Moses Lake, 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$74,337$6,195$1,734$2,230
      Renters$38,039$3,170$888$1,141
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Moses Lake, 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 Moses Lake homeowners, is $74,337. This would allow for a maximum of $1,734 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $38,039 which would result in a maximum of $888 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 Moses Lake National avg. Difference
      Haircut $35.77$24.2647.4%
      Beauty Salon $45.61$45.560.1%
      Toothpaste $3.96$3.706.9%
      Shampoo $1.41$1.2810.0%
      Movie $16.36$12.1334.8%
      Bowling $22.56$18.0025.3%

      Groceries

      Item Moses Lake National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.70$5.842.3%
      Fried Chicken $2.20$1.5740.1%
      Milk $5.12$4.679.5%
      Potatoes $4.46$4.939.6%
      Pizza $15.15$12.0925.3%
      Beer $12.18$10.4117.0%

      Health Care

      Item Moses Lake National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $212.13$125.6868.8%
      Doctor $145.39$135.787.1%
      Dentist $137.10$113.2921.0%
      Ibuprofen $12.52$10.6517.5%
      Lipitor $457.82$468.602.3%

      Housing

      Item Moses Lake National avg. Difference
      Home Price $188,000.00$184,700.001.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,571.38$2,346.6952.2%
      Apartment Rent $965.00$949.001.7%

      Transportation

      Item Moses Lake National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.62$3.4633.5%
      Tire Balancing $62.99$59.925.1%

      Utilities

      Item Moses Lake National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $176.57$193.999.0%
      Phone $202.75$192.255.5%
      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.
      Warden, WA2,773927.6%
      Moses Lake North, WA4,664955.3%
      Cascade Valley, WA3,234990.7%
      Ephrata, WA8,0811000.2%
      Moses Lake, WA23,4421033.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      West Melbourne, FL23,4541098.5%
      Bailey's Crossroads, VA23,45913231.8%
      Apollo Beach, FL23,48711515.3%
      Wilmington, MA23,39015958.9%
      Tumwater, WA23,39012626.4%
      Moses Lake, WA23,4421033.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.