Rating 5, 0 (2, 260) · The first thing to know about Washington is that the cost of living varies by region. Cities surrounding Seattle have the highest cost of. The cost of living in Washington is 13% higher than the national average. Housing is 20% higher than the national average, while utilities are 9% lower.
When it comes to basic necessities, such as food and clothing, food is about 11% higher than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs 11% more. Compared to other parts of the country, Washington State is quite an expensive place to reside. As we already mentioned, the housing market is much more expensive in the Evergreen State compared to the rest of the country. While consumers across the country are paying more for goods and services now than they were a year ago, the exact amount they pay depends largely on where they live, as some states have a much higher cost of living than others.
Of the five specific consumer categories included in the index (food, housing, utilities, transportation, and healthcare), healthcare is the most expensive in Washington compared to domestic prices, costing about 21.2% more than the average. At first glance, Olympia looks expensive, but it is among the cheapest places to live in Washington State. Building a home in Washington is also quite expensive, but careful planning can keep it below the national average. Many cities in Washington, such as Seattle and Tacoma, are expensive, but places like Spokane offer affordable rentals.
The most expensive in the state is the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area, where the cost of goods and services is 12.9% higher than the national average and 5.1% higher than the state average. Apparently, these actuarial science students have determined that Washington State is a fairly peaceful place to live. Renting and owning a home entails additional expenses, such as utilities, that take into account the cost of living. The safest city you can live in Washington State is Snoqualmie, and the most dangerous is Tukwila.
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. The transportation cost ratio in Washington State is 113.6, meaning that the state's transportation costs are nearly 14% more expensive than the national average. Food is another daily expense that has a significant impact on an area's overall cost of living. Washington State is one of the most expensive states, but 7.61 million residents are lucky enough to call it home.
Most people in suburban areas rely on personal vehicles for transportation, while those living in the heart of the metropolitan area have greater access to public transportation options. The numbers change if you have a partner with whom you share the burden of rent or a mortgage and there are additional factors to consider if you have dependents in your household who have expenses but no income, such as children or elderly relatives.
