Despite its reputation for high living costs, Washington offers some pockets of affordability. From the rain-soaked streets of Seattle to the lush green trails of the Pacific Crest, there are affordable cities in Washington for families to retirees and everyone in between.
So where can you live affordably in Washington with access to beaches, mountains, trails, and more without taking a significant cut out of your paycheck?
Our approach to identifying these cost-friendly locations is to use Saturday Night Science and Census data to compare real estate prices and general living expenses across Washington state.
In these Washington towns, you can afford a larger Starbucks budget for those rainy days with the money you save on real estate.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 most affordable places to live in Washington
What’s the most affordable place to live in Washington? The cheapest place to live in Washington is Grandview.
If you feel more of the coastal vibe, check out Hoquiam and Woodland.
These affordable Washington cities allow access to this state’s beautiful towns and resources without breaking the bank.
Check out some more reading about Washington and the cheapest places in the country:
The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Washington For 2024
/10
Population: 10,922
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 89
Median Income: $61,635
Median Home Price: $307,807
Median Rent: $1,005
Located between Yakima and Kennewick, Grandview is the cheapest city in Washington. With a combination of both a middle-of-the-pack median home price and median income at $307,807 and $61,635 respectively, Grandview has the seventh lowest home price to income ratio in the state. You can save even more money by buying your produce at Bill’s Berry Farm instead of the grocery store.
More on Grandview: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 8,820
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 89
Median Income: $64,327
Median Home Price: $254,836
Median Rent: $945
Located 20 miles southeast of Yakima, Toppenish is the second cheapest place to live in Washington. At a median price tag of $254,836, Toppenish boasts some of the cheapest homes in the state. And with residents earning a median income of $64,327, you’ll have the mortgage paid off before you even finish unpacking. As a bonus, you can see loads of spectacular art in Toppenish without spending a dime, because the city has over 75 murals to see. Trying to spot them all would be an inexpensive way to spend the day in Washington’s second most affordable city.
More on Toppenish: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 16,329
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 91
Median Income: $49,134
Median Home Price: $296,313
Median Rent: $1,028
Sunnyside has one of the most upbeat names for a town. Located in the south-central part of the state, the community sits along I-82, near the Yakama Indian Reservation. And there is some reason for the 16,329 inhabitants of Sunnyside to be so sunny: they live in the number 3 cheapest location in all of Washington.
The overall cost of living in Sunnyside ranks at 90% of the U.S. norm. While you can get a good deal on utilities in the region, the main living-expense value comes from cheap housing. The median home price sits at $296,313, the fifth lowest mark in Washington.
Rents present a great value as well. The median level there stands at $1,028 per month. That’s the 15th best reading in the state.
Elsewhere in the economy, the median income comes in at $49,134 while the unemployment rate sits at 8.9%. Crime is a modest problem in the area. The crime rate hovers about 35% above the U.S. standard.
In terms of local excitement, the Hanford Reach National Monument lies just north of town. Or you can jump on I-82 and get to Seattle in around 3 hours.
More on Sunnyside: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 6,512
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 91
Median Income: $55,667
Median Home Price: $232,660
Median Rent: $1,063
Union Gap, located in WA, is one of Washington’s most affordable places to live. With a median home value of $232,660 and a median rent of $1,063, residents can enjoy a high quality of life without breaking the bank. In fact, the home price to income ratio is only 4.18, making it one of the most affordable cities in the state.
As the retail hub for the Yakima Valley, Union Gap has access to a variety of shopping and dining options. Additionally, the city is home to part of the Yakama Nation, adding cultural significance to the area.
More on Union Gap: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 6,138
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 91
Median Income: $64,622
Median Home Price: $368,237
Median Rent: $940
Prosser is one of the cheapest places to live in WA. With a population of just over 6,138 people, Prosser boasts a median home value of $368,237 and a median rent of $940. These numbers make it easy for residents to find affordable housing options that fit their budgets.
Prosser’s economy is primarily concerned with agriculture, focusing on fruit orchards and packing plants. The city is also known for being part of the Yakima Valley AVA, a prominent wine-growing region. With nearly 30 wineries in and around the city, Prosser has become a hub for wine production.
More on Prosser: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 8,742
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 95
Median Income: $47,614
Median Home Price: $237,408
Median Rent: $955
Located an hour west of Olympia, Hoquiam ranks as the sixth most affordable city in Washington. Not to mention it’s the only city on this list that boasts ocean views and beaches. You’d have no idea you’re living in one of the most expensive states in the country if you moved to Hoquiam, where the median home price is the second lowest in Washington at $237,408. With folks in Hoquiam pulling in a median income of $47,614, Hoquiam has the sixth best home price to income ratio in the state. The only thing keeping Hoquiam from a higher spot on this list is a not-so-impressive income to rent ratio.
More on Hoquiam: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,582
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 95
Median Income: $63,824
Median Home Price: $319,802
Median Rent: $966
Rounding out our list of cheapest places to live in Washington is Othello, a city an hour north of Kennewick.
The median home price in Othello is $319,802 and the median income is $63,824, which gives Othello the ninth lowest home price to income ratio in the state. The median rent in Othello is $966, less than half the average rent in Washington. Buying or renting, living in Othello is sure to result in more money in your pocket at the end of every week.
More on Othello: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 7,754
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 95
Median Income: $69,628
Median Home Price: $422,190
Median Rent: $1,050
Located in central Washington, Quincy is the eighth cheapest place to live in the state. “Opportunities Unlimited” is the city’s motto, and boy is that true in monetary terms.
The median income in Quincy is $69,628 and the median home price is $422,190, giving the city the 45th lowest ratio of home price to income in Washington. And while rent in Quincy is slightly higher than #1 Connell, renters pay the 2lowest proportion of their income for rent in Washington. Couple these low bills with free activities like hiking around Ancient Lakes, and your savings will grow faster than you know what to do with them.
More on Quincy: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 7,222
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 95
Median Income: $48,587
Median Home Price: $300,957
Median Rent: $858
Clarkston ranks as Washington’s ninth most affordable city with a cost of living index of 95. Located in the Lewiston-ID-WA metro area, the city has a median home value of $300,957 and a $858 median rent.
Clarkston offers a variety of activities, such as fishing at Lower Granite Dam, hiking in Hells Gate State Park, visiting the Asotin County Aquatic Center, playing golf at Quail Ridge Golf Course, visiting the Nez Perce National Historical Park, and more.
More on Clarkston: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 33,842
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 96
Median Income: $58,179
Median Home Price: $398,968
Median Rent: $1,109
Walla Walla, nestled in southeastern Washington near the Oregon border, boasts an affordable lifestyle with a cost of living index at 96, 17.2% lower than the state average.
Walla Walla is home to several affordable attractions, including the Whitman Mission National Historic Site and the Fort Walla Walla Museum. Your wallet will love Walla Walla.
More on Walla Walla: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Cheapest places to live in Washington FAQs
The county in Washington with the lowest cost of living is Snohomish County. The average living wage in Snohomish County is $103,576 according to MIT data. Snohomish County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Washington as a whole. Childcare costs $21,546 a year in Snohomish County for two children compared to the Washington average of $19,075. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $22,872 per year in Snohomish County compared to $17,877 on average in Washington.
The cost of living in Washington is 5.9% higher than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Washington is $95,068 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Washington household is $77,006.
The cheapest housing market in Washington is Wapato. The average home value in Wapato is $109,400, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Washington is $366,800, almost 3.4 times higher than Wapato.
Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Evergreen State for 2024
Determining affordability for places in Washington boils down to how much it costs to live here.
You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.
With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 for Washington using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Services
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Utilities
These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.
We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Washington to figure out which is the least expensive.
The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 119 places in Washington that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.
The place in Washington with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Grandview.
We updated this article for 2024. This report reflects our tenth time ranking the cheapest places to live in Washington.
Washington Affordabilility Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Washington for 2024, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Washington.
The cheapest cities in Washington are Grandview, Toppenish, Sunnyside, Union Gap, Prosser, Hoquiam, Othello, Quincy, Clarkston, and Walla Walla.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Washington according to the data:
- Mercer Island
- Sammamish
- Bellevue
For more Washington reading, check out:
Cheapest Places To Live In Washington
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grandview | 10,922 | 89 | $61,635 | $307,807 | $1,005 |
| 2 | Toppenish | 8,820 | 89 | $64,327 | $254,836 | $945 |
| 3 | Sunnyside | 16,329 | 91 | $49,134 | $296,313 | $1,028 |
| 4 | Union Gap | 6,512 | 91 | $55,667 | $232,660 | $1,063 |
| 5 | Prosser | 6,138 | 91 | $64,622 | $368,237 | $940 |
| 6 | Hoquiam | 8,742 | 95 | $47,614 | $237,408 | $955 |
| 7 | Othello | 8,582 | 95 | $63,824 | $319,802 | $966 |
| 8 | Quincy | 7,754 | 95 | $69,628 | $422,190 | $1,050 |
| 9 | Clarkston | 7,222 | 95 | $48,587 | $300,957 | $858 |
| 10 | Walla Walla | 33,842 | 96 | $58,179 | $398,968 | $1,109 |
| 11 | College Place | 9,796 | 96 | $60,417 | $391,166 | $1,027 |
| 12 | Ephrata | 8,419 | 96 | $57,958 | $304,972 | $1,003 |
| 13 | Spokane | 227,922 | 97 | $63,316 | $374,653 | $1,060 |
| 14 | Kennewick | 83,823 | 97 | $70,429 | $408,524 | $1,113 |
| 15 | Pasco | 77,274 | 97 | $75,316 | $402,116 | $1,150 |
| 16 | Moses Lake | 25,155 | 97 | $66,218 | $348,550 | $1,088 |
| 17 | Yakima | 96,764 | 98 | $55,734 | $334,812 | $1,014 |
| 18 | Kelso | 12,661 | 99 | $59,405 | $362,495 | $1,080 |
| 19 | Airway Heights | 10,570 | 99 | $57,857 | $360,338 | $1,271 |
| 20 | Spokane Valley | 103,761 | 100 | $66,483 | $390,629 | $1,175 |
| 21 | Aberdeen | 16,969 | 100 | $50,008 | $260,991 | $923 |
| 22 | Cheney | 12,848 | 100 | $45,419 | $410,663 | $1,020 |
| 23 | Shelton | 10,484 | 101 | $57,907 | $406,252 | $1,241 |
| 24 | Selah | 8,203 | 101 | $66,843 | $411,893 | $1,335 |
| 25 | Longview | 37,722 | 102 | $57,920 | $368,668 | $1,050 |
| 26 | West Richland | 16,547 | 102 | $118,093 | $484,391 | $1,393 |
| 27 | Centralia | 18,234 | 103 | $50,422 | $370,647 | $993 |
| 28 | Richland | 60,867 | 104 | $89,283 | $450,032 | $1,321 |
| 29 | Wenatchee | 35,365 | 104 | $66,143 | $460,521 | $1,152 |
| 30 | Ellensburg | 19,003 | 104 | $53,730 | $453,476 | $1,177 |
| 31 | East Wenatchee | 14,065 | 104 | $78,312 | $473,254 | $1,186 |
| 32 | Pullman | 31,972 | 106 | $41,479 | $421,064 | $971 |
| 33 | Chehalis | 7,512 | 106 | $61,378 | $456,110 | $983 |
| 34 | Ocean Shores | 6,838 | 107 | $54,435 | $354,909 | $1,179 |
| 35 | Port Angeles | 20,007 | 108 | $60,212 | $428,897 | $1,118 |
| 36 | Burlington | 9,361 | 108 | $68,737 | $494,110 | $1,530 |
| 37 | Battle Ground | 20,888 | 109 | $94,360 | $574,680 | $1,456 |
| 38 | Woodland | 6,463 | 109 | $78,870 | $547,514 | $1,334 |
| 39 | Sedro-Woolley | 12,470 | 110 | $72,281 | $438,316 | $1,432 |
| 40 | Yelm | 10,438 | 110 | $88,818 | $449,840 | $1,355 |
| 41 | Sequim | 8,073 | 110 | $48,015 | $554,317 | $1,063 |
| 42 | Mount Vernon | 35,120 | 112 | $69,227 | $538,340 | $1,185 |
| 43 | Liberty Lake | 12,026 | 112 | $101,936 | $558,815 | $1,731 |
| 44 | Tacoma | 219,234 | 113 | $79,085 | $463,801 | $1,489 |
| 45 | Vancouver | 190,700 | 113 | $73,626 | $487,468 | $1,525 |
| 46 | Lacey | 56,263 | 113 | $79,874 | $469,149 | $1,639 |
| 47 | Olympia | 55,151 | 113 | $73,851 | $506,104 | $1,437 |
| 48 | Lakewood | 63,142 | 114 | $65,531 | $476,344 | $1,318 |
| 49 | Tumwater | 25,617 | 114 | $84,177 | $479,190 | $1,506 |
| 50 | Marysville | 70,847 | 115 | $98,288 | $570,905 | $1,763 |
| 51 | Pacific | 7,097 | 115 | $98,148 | $521,184 | $1,762 |
| 52 | Oak Harbor | 24,458 | 116 | $68,039 | $484,194 | $1,528 |
| 53 | Washougal | 16,828 | 116 | $97,295 | $584,262 | $1,397 |
| 54 | Ferndale | 15,130 | 116 | $82,466 | $582,368 | $1,341 |
| 55 | Stanwood | 8,051 | 116 | $85,357 | $657,147 | $1,520 |
| 56 | Auburn | 85,623 | 117 | $87,406 | $570,116 | $1,594 |
| 57 | Enumclaw | 12,630 | 117 | $110,789 | $605,326 | $1,338 |
| 58 | Buckley | 5,191 | 117 | $120,707 | $594,115 | $1,701 |
| 59 | Bremerton | 43,983 | 118 | $68,556 | $451,154 | $1,413 |
| 60 | Arlington | 20,263 | 118 | $89,587 | $601,820 | $1,709 |
| 61 | Orting | 8,898 | 118 | $114,458 | $531,870 | $2,156 |
| 62 | Milton | 8,543 | 118 | $90,372 | $535,284 | $1,836 |
| 63 | Sumner | 10,589 | 119 | $83,285 | $540,052 | $1,759 |
| 64 | Kent | 135,169 | 120 | $86,966 | $603,965 | $1,742 |
| 65 | Bellingham | 91,353 | 120 | $64,026 | $630,615 | $1,385 |
| 66 | Fife | 10,887 | 120 | $84,538 | $530,444 | $1,730 |
| 67 | Federal Way | 99,614 | 122 | $80,360 | $558,348 | $1,660 |
| 68 | Des Moines | 32,667 | 122 | $81,362 | $564,875 | $1,662 |
| 69 | Lynden | 15,723 | 122 | $86,175 | $574,354 | $1,405 |
| 70 | Blaine | 5,865 | 122 | $78,633 | $511,525 | $1,285 |
| 71 | Puyallup | 42,610 | 123 | $90,592 | $540,014 | $1,663 |
| 72 | Port Townsend | 10,161 | 123 | $59,193 | $616,806 | $1,111 |
| 73 | Fircrest | 7,098 | 123 | $99,032 | $587,271 | $1,338 |
| 74 | Everett | 110,847 | 124 | $77,806 | $618,504 | $1,611 |
| 75 | Anacortes | 17,667 | 124 | $86,911 | $694,105 | $1,526 |
| 76 | Steilacoom | 6,680 | 124 | $94,708 | $592,049 | $1,592 |
| 77 | University Place | 34,696 | 125 | $89,658 | $621,099 | $1,565 |
| 78 | SeaTac | 30,927 | 125 | $79,433 | $538,091 | $1,626 |
| 79 | Camas | 26,387 | 125 | $133,829 | $713,685 | $1,798 |
| 80 | Ridgefield | 11,486 | 125 | $107,308 | $645,057 | $2,201 |
| 81 | Sultan | 5,462 | 125 | $79,084 | $523,936 | $1,584 |
| 82 | Bonney Lake | 22,590 | 126 | $123,462 | $637,988 | $2,006 |
| 83 | Black Diamond | 5,314 | 126 | $134,076 | $730,492 | $1,417 |
| 84 | Port Orchard | 15,820 | 128 | $82,650 | $506,119 | $1,676 |
| 85 | Poulsbo | 11,824 | 128 | $89,393 | $619,283 | $1,642 |
| 86 | Burien | 51,505 | 130 | $84,583 | $605,886 | $1,649 |
| 87 | Covington | 20,814 | 130 | $123,065 | $614,981 | $2,085 |
| 88 | Monroe | 19,632 | 130 | $99,713 | $660,014 | $1,836 |
| 89 | Edgewood | 12,397 | 130 | $115,325 | $673,664 | $1,659 |
| 90 | DuPont | 9,955 | 130 | $106,695 | $564,984 | $2,168 |
| 91 | Mountlake Terrace | 21,350 | 131 | $96,104 | $634,570 | $1,830 |
| 92 | Snohomish | 10,133 | 131 | $81,731 | $872,921 | $1,291 |
| 93 | Lynnwood | 39,867 | 132 | $72,241 | $722,260 | $1,611 |
| 94 | Lake Stevens | 38,816 | 133 | $111,821 | $656,462 | $1,987 |
| 95 | Gig Harbor | 11,917 | 133 | $103,688 | $758,110 | $1,859 |
| 96 | Renton | 105,355 | 134 | $92,292 | $700,607 | $1,864 |
| 97 | Maple Valley | 27,889 | 134 | $137,595 | $750,316 | $2,127 |
| 98 | Shoreline | 58,673 | 141 | $106,184 | $761,022 | $1,853 |
| 99 | Bothell | 47,917 | 143 | $127,944 | $954,899 | $2,174 |
| 100 | Brier | 6,539 | 144 | $141,200 | $907,268 | $2,227 |