C-
22%
Overall NAT. AVG.
13%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
50%
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 Mount Vernon Washington National
Cost of living122118100
Goods & Services113111100
Groceries109110100
Health care123120100
Housing150135100
Transportation117123100
Utilities9292100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Mount Vernon, WA

Knowing the cost of living in Mount Vernon 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 Mount Vernon stands at 122, marking it 22% higher than the national average.

If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Mount Vernon may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Mount Vernon falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Mount Vernon 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 50.5% 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 Mount Vernon, these items will cost you 13.1% more than what most folks pay, making it a bit more expensive to live here.

Is Mount Vernon Affordable?

Is Mount Vernon 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 Mount Vernon is 67.2% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 11.3% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Mount Vernon has a median household income of $63,194, which is 14.2% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Mount Vernon?

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 Mount Vernon, healthcare costs are 22.8% higher than the national average.

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Mount Vernon, the housing index is 50.5% higher than the national average.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Mount Vernon, the utilities index registers at 8% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Mount Vernon 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 Mount Vernon is 4% higher than the Washington average
  • The cost of living in Mount Vernon is 22% higher than the national average
  • Mount Vernon housing is 50% 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 Mount Vernon

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Compare Mount Vernon, 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$80,043$6,670$1,868$2,402
      Renters$38,860$3,238$907$1,166
      The affordability of the housing market in Mount Vernon, WA as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Mount Vernon homeowners, the median income is $80,043. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,868 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $38,860. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $907 for their rent related monthly 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 Mount Vernon National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.78$24.2610.4%
      Beauty Salon $67.83$45.5648.9%
      Toothpaste $3.48$3.706.0%
      Shampoo $1.23$1.283.7%
      Movie $12.82$12.135.7%
      Bowling $18.58$18.003.2%

      Groceries

      Item Mount Vernon National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.76$5.8415.7%
      Fried Chicken $2.22$1.5741.3%
      Milk $4.98$4.676.7%
      Potatoes $4.43$4.9310.2%
      Pizza $12.95$12.097.2%
      Beer $11.47$10.4110.2%

      Health Care

      Item Mount Vernon National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $187.66$125.6849.3%
      Doctor $228.42$135.7868.2%
      Dentist $136.92$113.2920.9%
      Ibuprofen $11.80$10.6510.7%
      Lipitor $415.36$468.6011.4%

      Housing

      Item Mount Vernon National avg. Difference
      Home Price $308,900.00$184,700.0067.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,731.21$2,346.6916.4%
      Apartment Rent $1,056.00$949.0011.3%

      Transportation

      Item Mount Vernon National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.35$3.4625.7%
      Tire Balancing $87.22$59.9245.6%

      Utilities

      Item Mount Vernon National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $153.78$193.9920.7%
      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.
      Silvana, WA1411010.5%
      Northwest Stanwood, WA7911010.5%
      Conway, WA4011010.5%
      Hamilton, WA31111111.3%
      Lake McMurray, WA47811212.0%
      Mount Vernon, WA35,50212222.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      West Hollywood, CA35,50618282.0%
      Inver Grove Heights, MN35,49211010.2%
      Oildale, CA35,5201088.4%
      Wildwood, MO35,47612221.7%
      Oswego, IL35,47011414.3%
      Mount Vernon, WA35,50212222.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.