Cost of Living: Seattle vs Washington (2026)

Seattle vs Washington cost of living compared: rent, home prices, and what your salary is really worth. Washington is about 2% less expensive than Seattle overall — $100,000 in Seattle is worth about $97,976 in Washington.

Washington is about 2% less expensive than Seattle overall — $100,000 in Seattle is worth about $97,976 in Washington.

Seattle vs Washington: the numbers

MetricSeattleWashingtonDifference
Cost-of-living index (US=100)111109-2%
Median rent$1,998$1,900-5%
Median home value$912,100$724,600-21%
Median household income$121,984$106,287-13%

Cost of living = BEA Regional Price Parities (US average = 100). Rent, home value, and income from the U.S. Census ACS. See our methodology.

What your salary is worth

A $100,000 salary in Seattle has the same buying power as about $97,976 in Washington. Going the other way, $100,000 in Washington is like $102,066 in Seattle.

Use the calculator below to compare any salary between Seattle and Washington.

Compare any salary: Seattle vs Washington

What you earn (or want to compare)

Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle is more expensive. Its cost-of-living index is 111 vs 109 — a 2% difference. Your money goes further in Washington.

About $97,976 — that's what you'd need in Washington to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Seattle.