Cost of living in Washington
Prices in Washington are 7.0% above the US average (6th highest of 51). Washington has no income tax on wages. State sales tax: 6.5%.
Price levels in Washington
| BEA RPP 2024 | Washington | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 107.0 | +7.0% |
| Goods | 104.4 | +4.4% |
| Housing (rents) | 126.0 | +26.0% |
| Utilities | 92.9 | −7.1% |
| Other services | 103.9 | +3.9% |
Metros in Washington
Metros whose principal city is in Washington. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | 4,161,883 | 111.1 | $2,549 | $478 | $187 |
| Spokane, WA | 608,012 | 100.3 | $1,494 | $288 | $1,221 |
| Kennewick, WA | 324,334 | 100.1 | $1,487 | $270 | $1,164 |
| Olympia, WA | 304,261 | 103.7 | $1,946 | $357 | $738 |
| Bremerton, WA | 283,374 | 105.6 | $1,967 | $328 | $859 |
| Yakima, WA | 259,185 | 95.5 | $1,313 | $270 | $1,390 |
| Bellingham, WA | 236,392 | 103.3 | $1,872 | $363 | $865 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | 132,975 | 102.4 | $1,668 | $363 | $1,119 |
| Wenatchee, WA | 128,414 | 103.9 | $1,467 | $237 | $1,273 |
| Longview, WA | 114,885 | 97.5 | $1,398 | $357 | $1,270 |
| Walla Walla, WA | 62,361 | 98.5 | $1,561 | $270 | $1,201 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Also partly in Washington: Portland, OR-WA, Lewiston, ID-WA.
Taxes in Washington (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Washington income tax | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Washington payroll taxes | $694 | $1,040 | $1,665 | $1,665 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,472 | $5,046 | $7,632 | $8,626 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro).
Childcare prices across Washington
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $328 | $20,823 | $246 |
| Toddler (2) | $249 | $15,823 | $205 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $249 | $15,823 | $205 |
| School-age (5–12) | $192 | $12,180 | $190 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $237 a week in Whitman County to $478 in King County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 39 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pierce County | $526,600 | $4,770 | 0.91% |
| Thurston County | $480,300 | $4,209 | 0.88% |
| Walla Walla County | $408,900 | $3,492 | 0.85% |
| Spokane County | $410,700 | $3,434 | 0.84% |
| King County | $859,900 | $7,114 | 0.83% |
| Asotin County | $325,600 | $2,340 | 0.72% |
| Chelan County | $490,100 | $3,503 | 0.71% |
| Whatcom County | $585,800 | $4,087 | 0.70% |
| Skamania County | $529,500 | $3,532 | 0.67% |
| Stevens County | $350,600 | $2,065 | 0.59% |
Five highest and five lowest of 19 counties.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Washington
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 221,646 in, 204,242 out (net +17,404).
Frequently asked questions
Is Washington expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Washington’s overall price level at 107.0 in 2024 (US = 100), the 6th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 126.0 and goods 104.4.
Does Washington have a state income tax?+
No — Washington does not tax wages, though employees pay $1,040 a year in state payroll taxes on $75,000.
What is the sales tax in Washington?+
The state rate is 6.5% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Washington?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Yakima, WA leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,390), and Seattle, WA the least ($187).