B
18%
Overall NAT. AVG.
13%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
34%
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 Wenatchee Washington National
Cost of living118118100
Goods & Services113111100
Groceries106110100
Health care119120100
Housing134135100
Transportation131123100
Utilities8492100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Wenatchee, WA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Wenatchee? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Wenatchee stands at 118, making it 18% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Wenatchee 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 33.6% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

The things you purchase regularly, like clothes, haircuts, movie tickets and gym memberships, can make a big dent in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. Unfortunately in Wenatchee, these items will cost you 13.3% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

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

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 13 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Wenatchee. The feedback revealed that 31% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 69% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Wenatchee Affordable?

Is Wenatchee 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 Wenatchee, the median home price is 47.9% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 0.2% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Wenatchee come in at $56,962, which is 3% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Wenatchee?

Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Wenatchee, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 6.5%, and income tax rates start at 0%.

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 Wenatchee, healthcare costs are 18.7% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from 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 crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Wenatchee 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.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Wenatchee is equal to the Washington average
  • The cost of living in Wenatchee is 18% higher than the national average
  • Wenatchee housing is 34% 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 Wenatchee

See all the best places to live around Wenatchee

Compare Wenatchee, 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$75,110$6,259$1,752$2,254
      Renters$37,899$3,158$884$1,137
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Wenatchee is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Wenatchee has a median income of about $75,110 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,752 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $37,899. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $884 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Wenatchee National avg. Difference
      Haircut $30.16$24.2624.3%
      Beauty Salon $47.67$45.564.6%
      Toothpaste $3.78$3.702.0%
      Shampoo $1.25$1.282.4%
      Movie $13.59$12.1312.0%
      Bowling $26.84$18.0049.1%

      Groceries

      Item Wenatchee National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.34$5.848.6%
      Fried Chicken $2.26$1.5743.8%
      Milk $4.93$4.675.5%
      Potatoes $4.44$4.9310.0%
      Pizza $14.20$12.0917.5%
      Beer $11.67$10.4112.1%

      Health Care

      Item Wenatchee National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $211.72$125.6868.5%
      Doctor $183.18$135.7834.9%
      Dentist $123.42$113.298.9%
      Ibuprofen $11.62$10.659.1%
      Lipitor $465.70$468.600.6%

      Housing

      Item Wenatchee National avg. Difference
      Home Price $273,100.00$184,700.0047.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,432.67$2,346.6946.3%
      Apartment Rent $951.00$949.000.2%

      Transportation

      Item Wenatchee National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.45$3.4628.4%
      Tire Balancing $81.97$59.9236.8%

      Utilities

      Item Wenatchee National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $139.40$193.9928.1%
      Phone $200.22$192.254.1%
      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.
      South Wenatchee, WA1,3511054.7%
      Rock Island, WA1,2401055.2%
      Cashmere, WA3,14811414.4%
      East Wenatchee, WA14,01211919.0%
      Sunnyslope, WA3,76114040.1%
      Wenatchee, WA34,24911817.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Torrington, CT34,2591021.5%
      Adelanto, CA34,23811616.5%
      Butte-Silver Bow, MT34,2631000.1%
      Kennesaw, GA34,2321044.1%
      Chillum, MD34,23012828.5%
      Wenatchee, WA34,24911817.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.