| Index | Washington | Utah | National |
| Cost of living | 122 | 105 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Health care | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Housing | 168 | 113 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 101 | 102 | 100 |
| Household Items | 101 | 102 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 100 | 105 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Washington 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 Washington stands at 122, marking it 22% higher than the national average.
The cost of living in Washington 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, Washington falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.
Housing costs significantly influence the Washington cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 67.6%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
Is Washington 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 Washington, the median home price is 86.8% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 22.8% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Washington boasting a median household income of $114,490, 40.8% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Washington, the groceries index is 3.7% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Washington, healthcare costs are 1.4% lower than the national average.
Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Washington comes in at 0.4% higher than the national average.
The Washington cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional 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 | $130,959 | $10,913 | $3,056 | $3,929 |
| Renters | $87,267 | $7,272 | $2,036 | $2,618 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Utah | 6.1% | 8.35% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Utah | 4.85% | 4.85% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| La Verkin, UT | 4,498 | 107 | 7.3% |
| Hurricane, UT | 18,604 | 111 | 11.0% |
| Veyo, UT | 326 | 114 | 14.1% |
| St. George, UT | 88,946 | 116 | 16.1% |
| Ivins, UT | 9,178 | 123 | 22.6% |
| Washington, UT | 28,756 | 122 | 21.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Hobart, IN | 28,763 | 94 | 5.6% |
| Immokalee, FL | 28,766 | 97 | 3.2% |
| Williston, ND | 28,744 | 108 | 7.6% |
| Slidell, LA | 28,740 | 100 | 0.4% |
| Rockledge, FL | 28,774 | 112 | 11.6% |
| Washington, UT | 28,756 | 122 | 21.5% |
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