State profile
Washington Cost of Living Comparison
Washington's 2024 price level is 107.013, 7.01% above the national level; it has no individual income tax today, relies on sales tax for 59.4% of state revenue, and has enacted a 9.9% tax on incomes above $1 million from 2028.
Updated
107.013Washington all-items price level, U.S. = 100 · rank 46 of 51, lowest first
| Measure | Washington | New York | First − second |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-items price level | 107.013 | 107.921 | −0.908 points |
| Rent price level | 125.979 | 122.168 | +3.811 points |
| Home value | $564,600±$1,940 | $423,800±$1,627 | +$140,800 |
| Two-bedroom gross rent | $1,756±$11 | $1,620±$10 | +$136 |
| Household income | $98,141±$414 | $85,974±$402 | +$12,167 |
| Real estate taxes paid | $4,556±$16 | $6,582±$21 | −$2,026 |
$4,000 of monthly spending in Washington scales to $4,034 in New York at the 2024 all-items price ratio.
BEA 2024 and ACS 2020–2024; ± marks the Census 90% margin. How to read a gap
Washington: a sales-tax state with an income tax on the way
Washington is the mirror image of Oregon next door. Oregon draws 63.7% of its state collections from individual income tax; Washington draws 59.4% from general sales and gross receipts, $2,922 per resident, and only 1.4% from individual income. Washington does not currently have an individual income tax, according to its Department of Revenue, but Senate Bill 6346 (2026) creates a 9.9% tax from January 1, 2028 on annual adjusted gross income above $1 million, with first returns due in April 2029. A separate capital gains excise tax already applies to individuals who owe it. Property tax supplied 12.0% of state collections; total collections were $4,920 per resident, rank 15.
Prices are high except for energy. Rents (125.979) rank 46th of 51 and other services (103.873) 49th, and goods (104.359) are above the U.S. level, but utilities, at 92.860, are 7.14% below it.
Homes are among the most expensive in the country, fourth by median value, and owners carry the seventh-highest mortgaged costs and tenth-highest property taxes. Renters face a two-bedroom median of $1,756, rank 7, and spend 30.0% of income on gross rent.
Incomes keep pace. The median household income of $98,141 ranks eighth and real per capita personal income, adjusted for prices, is $64,421, rank 10.
The relative price level peaked at 110.035 in 2022 and has eased to 107.013. Idaho, across the eastern line, is far cheaper at 95.494, with a two-bedroom median of $1,163, or $593 a month less, and a median home value $146,000 lower. New York (107.921) is the nearest price level nationally.
Category price levels in Washington
| Category | Parity | Rank, low first | vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 107.013 | 46 | 7.01% above |
| Goods | 104.359 | 44 | 4.36% above |
| Housing (rents) | 125.979 | 46 | 25.98% above |
| Utilities | 92.860 | 33 | 7.14% below |
| Other services | 103.873 | 49 | 3.87% above |
| Real income per person, 2017 $ | $64,421 | 10 | U.S. $59,195 |
All items by year: 2020 107.859 · 2021 108.804 · 2022 110.035 · 2023 108.370 · 2024 107.013 (−0.846 since 2020). How to read categories and trends
Monthly housing costs
- Owners with a mortgage
- $2,445±$8 · rank 7, high first
- Owners without a mortgage
- $773±$4 · rank 11
- Renters: gross rent / income
- 30.0%±0.2 · rank 20
Washington state tax collections, FY2025
$39.36 billion in total, $4,920 per resident. Scope of these figures
| Tax | FY2025 | Share | Per resident |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual income | $545.7 million | 1.4% | $68 |
| General sales | $23.38 billion | 59.4% | $2,922 |
| Property | $4.71 billion | 12.0% | $589 |
| Motor fuel | $1.51 billion | 3.8% | $189 |
| Other selective sales | $4.46 billion | 11.3% | $557 |
| Corporate income | not levied | ||
| Licenses | $2.25 billion | 5.7% | $281 |
| Severance | $38.8 million | 0.1% | $5 |
| Other taxes | $2.47 billion | 6.3% | $308 |
Washington income tax on wages
Washington does not currently have an individual income tax, according to its Department of Revenue. Senate Bill 6346 (2026) creates a 9.9% income tax from January 1, 2028 for individuals and joint filers with annual adjusted gross income above $1 million; first returns are due in April 2029. Washington separately collects a capital gains excise tax from individuals who owe it.
Read : Washington Department of Revenue: income tax and capital gains tax. Price parities exclude income taxes.
Washington sales tax
RCW 82.08.020 levies Washington's state sales tax at 6.5% of the selling price of each retail sale of tangible personal property, digital goods and the other sales the section lists.
Washington beside its neighbours
| Jurisdiction | All items | Rents | Goods | 2BR rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 107.013 | 125.979 | 104.359 | $1,756 |
| Idaho | 95.494 | 90.027 | 96.311 | $1,163 |
| Oregon | 103.361 | 108.628 | 105.261 | $1,523 |
Beyond its two borders, the nearest 2024 all-items price levels to Washington:
Before you budget a move
A Washington comparison should identify the type of income before treating ordinary individual income-tax treatment as the whole tax picture. Special transaction taxes and actual household circumstances require their own preparation. This verified table compares price levels and population medians without converting them into a complete state return.
For Seattle-area, Spokane-area or another destination, compare the real dwelling, commute and benefit package. Housing price parity concerns rental prices, not the assessed value of a purchase. A lease may separate utility payments that are incorporated into the Census gross-rent definition, so keep the budget consistent.
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