Your ability to “comfortably pay for housing, transportation, healthcare, food, utilities, transportation and more cost of living expenses” now has an annual dollar figure if you want to live in Seattle. The living wage shown is the hourly rate that a person in a household must earn to support themselves and their family. The only provider is supposed to work full time (2080 hours per year). The tool provides information for individuals and households with one or two working adults and zero to three children.
For households with two working adults, all values are per working adult, single or in a family, unless otherwise stated. The state minimum wage is the same for all people, regardless of the number of dependents they have. The data is updated annually, in the first quarter of the new year. State minimum wages are determined based on the published value of the minimum wage as of January 1 of the following year (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2011.The poverty rate reflects a person's gross annual income.
We have converted it into an hourly wage for the sake of comparison. Before settling in Seattle, visit some of these lowest cost of living cities in Washington State to see if they offer the same experiences you want at a more affordable price. The good news is that Washington doesn't have personal income taxes, which could balance your spending. And while counties on the west side of Cascades generally require higher salaries to meet basic needs, the cost of living in eastern Washington counties also increased significantly.
While the cost of living in Washington State is higher than in most other regions, it often appears as one of the highest minimum wage levels in the nation along with California. Another affordable city to consider in Washington State is Bothell, which is located just outside of Seattle. While King County and the surrounding areas are often the most popular to visit and move to, there are more affordable cities that also offer entertainment and community activities for residents looking for something cheaper than the average cost of living in Washington State. Mississippi is considered to be the cheapest state to live in, which is 15 percent lower than the rest of the country.
To better understand why such a high income level is needed to live in the city, consider some of the basic expenses associated with living there. As you explore different parts of Washington State, you may discover that there are other hidden gems outside of Seattle. Keep reading to see the annual salary needed to live comfortably in every state in the U.S. Department of State, listed in alphabetical order by state name.
The cost of living in Washington State and Oregon is considered to be one of the highest in the nation and there are more affordable cities and regions in the United States, particularly in the south. Washington State also sets guidelines for salaried workers or people earning a fixed income regardless of the number of hours they work. In Washington, the Seattle-King County Workforce Development Council provides a complementary interactive tool, The Calculator, for families and professional counselors. This annual increase of L%26I COLA is determined by the annual change in the average weekly wage (AWW) of Washington State.
If you are concerned about the cost of living in Washington State but still want to move to the area, work with a real estate agent who knows the different neighborhoods and affordable towns.
