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.
$54,152 median income · $917 median rent · #12 home prices in Washington
Located in
Asotin County, Washington
Clarkston ranks as Washington’s most affordable city with a cost of living index of 96. Located in the Lewiston-ID-WA metro area, the city has a median home value of $339,607 and a $917 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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$67,854 median income · $985 median rent · #5 home prices in Washington
Located in
Yakima County, Washington
Located 20 miles southeast of Yakima, Toppenish is the second cheapest place to live in Washington. At a median price tag of $274,117, Toppenish boasts some of the cheapest homes in the state. And with residents earning a median income of $67,854, 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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$76,544 median income · $1,002 median rent · #3 home prices in Washington
Data | Movers
$49,795 median income · $1,086 median rent · #1 home prices in Washington
Located in
Grays Harbor County, Washington
Located an hour west of Olympia, Hoquiam ranks as the fourth 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 lowest in Washington at $242,339. With folks in Hoquiam pulling in a median income of $49,795, Hoquiam has the 11th 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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$61,106 median income · $1,107 median rent · #11 home prices in Washington
Located in
Yakima County, Washington
Located between Yakima and Kennewick, Grandview is the fifth cheapest city in Washington. With a combination of both a middle-of-the-pack median home price and median income at $339,263 and $61,106 respectively, Grandview has the 32nd 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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$52,195 median income · $1,049 median rent · #4 home prices in Washington
Located in
Grays Harbor County, Washington
Aberdeen used to be a rough town. Around the turn of the 20th century, it had earned the nickname “Port of Missing Men” because of the tendency of sailors to get murdered there. These days, the community’s reputation has changed somewhat. Now it’s known as one of the most affordable places to live in Washington.
Crime is still an issue in the area. The crime rate runs about 80% above the national average. There are other benefits for the 17,088 residents, however. Namely, Aberdeen has an extremely reasonable housing market.
The median home price sits at $273,201. That equates to the fourth cheapest level in the state. You can get a good deal on rents as well. The median value there stands at $1,049 per month. Overall, the cost of living in Aberdeen comes in at 90% the national average, thanks largely to affordable housing.
Aberdeen is built on Grays Harbor on the Pacific Coast. Seattle, the state’s biggest city, is a two-hour drive to the northeast. Just north of Aberdeen, you can find the Olympic National Forest, a great place for hiking and other outdoor activities.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$87,902 median income · $1,161 median rent · #28 home prices in Washington
Located in
Grant County, Washington
Located in central Washington, Quincy is the seventh 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 $87,902 and the median home price is $424,717, giving the city the ninth lowest ratio of home price to income in Washington. And while rent in Quincy is slightly higher than #1 Connell, renters pay the 11th lowest 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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$59,651 median income · $1,133 median rent · #2 home prices in Washington
Located in
Yakima County, Washington
Union Gap, located in WA, is one of Washington’s most affordable places to live. With a median home value of $253,405 and a median rent of $1,133, residents can enjoy a high quality of life without breaking the bank. In fact, the home price to income ratio is only 4.25, 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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$60,923 median income · $1,026 median rent · #6 home prices in Washington
Located in
Yakima County, Washington
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 16,277 inhabitants of Sunnyside to be so sunny: they live in the number 9 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 $322,238, the sixth lowest mark in Washington.
Rents present a great value as well. The median level there stands at $1,026 per month. That’s the seventh best reading in the state.
Elsewhere in the economy, the median income comes in at $60,923 while the unemployment rate sits at 12.31%. 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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$69,551 median income · $1,106 median rent · #7 home prices in Washington
Located in
Grant County, Washington
Washington may be one of the most expensive states in America, but you wouldn’t know it in Ephrata, the tenth most affordable city in the state. Ephrata is a great place to buy or rent, with both options costing less of your hard-earned income than most cities in Washington. The median income in Ephrata is $69,551 and the median home price is $323,667. At just a hair over $700/month, Ephrata’s median rent is slightly higher than the cities above, but still substantially lower than Washington in general.
Ephrata is located in central Washington, just east of Quincy.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Washington’s statewide median.
Washington statewide median: $601,016
Washington statewide median: $98,141
On the map
Where your money goes furthest in Washington
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Evergreen State for 2026
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 2020-2024 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 122 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 Clarkston.
We updated this article for 2026. This report reflects our eleventh time ranking the cheapest places to live in Washington.
The full plate
Cheapest Places To Live In Washington
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clarkston | 7,191 | 96 | $54,152 | $339,607 | $917 |
| 2 | Toppenish | 8,723 | 99 | $67,854 | $274,117 | $985 |
| 3 | Omak | 5,036 | 99 | $76,544 | $263,982 | $1,002 |
| 4 | Hoquiam | 8,800 | 100 | $49,795 | $242,339 | $1,086 |
| 5 | Grandview | 11,187 | 101 | $61,106 | $339,263 | $1,107 |
| 6 | Aberdeen | 17,088 | 102 | $52,195 | $273,201 | $1,049 |
| 7 | Quincy | 7,998 | 102 | $87,902 | $424,717 | $1,161 |
| 8 | Union Gap | 6,584 | 102 | $59,651 | $253,405 | $1,133 |
| 9 | Sunnyside | 16,277 | 103 | $60,923 | $322,238 | $1,026 |
| 10 | Ephrata | 8,560 | 105 | $69,551 | $323,667 | $1,106 |
| 11 | Centralia | 18,830 | 106 | $56,219 | $395,613 | $1,084 |
| 12 | Othello | 8,795 | 106 | $65,849 | $338,063 | $882 |
| 13 | Prosser | 6,305 | 106 | $76,985 | $420,604 | $944 |
| 14 | Yakima | 96,961 | 107 | $62,815 | $359,876 | $1,117 |
| 15 | Kelso | 12,684 | 107 | $66,751 | $384,872 | $1,220 |
| 16 | Connell | 5,054 | 107 | $77,721 | $325,258 | $1,011 |
| 17 | Longview | 38,069 | 108 | $61,747 | $385,310 | $1,137 |
| 18 | Moses Lake | 26,083 | 108 | $74,752 | $364,481 | $1,216 |
| 19 | Spokane | 230,293 | 109 | $70,064 | $395,325 | $1,215 |
| 20 | Walla Walla | 33,925 | 109 | $66,748 | $413,578 | $1,323 |
| 21 | Shelton | 10,612 | 109 | $69,598 | $422,092 | $1,365 |
| 22 | Sequim | 8,161 | 109 | $59,707 | $562,161 | $1,195 |
| 23 | Airway Heights | 11,245 | 110 | $62,874 | $372,868 | $1,389 |
| 24 | College Place | 9,854 | 110 | $61,914 | $404,142 | $1,186 |
| 25 | Chehalis | 7,587 | 110 | $73,702 | $478,650 | $1,102 |
| 26 | Cheney | 12,804 | 111 | $54,503 | $420,133 | $1,156 |
| 27 | Pasco | 79,575 | 112 | $85,586 | $418,088 | $1,227 |
| 28 | Spokane Valley | 106,365 | 113 | $74,042 | $408,888 | $1,353 |
| 29 | Port Angeles | 20,118 | 113 | $62,606 | $450,576 | $1,170 |
| 30 | Ocean Shores | 7,302 | 114 | $58,202 | $338,336 | $1,284 |
| 31 | Wenatchee | 35,484 | 115 | $73,040 | $491,478 | $1,248 |
| 32 | Kennewick | 85,295 | 116 | $73,576 | $430,870 | $1,240 |
| 33 | Selah | 8,437 | 117 | $74,783 | $436,782 | $1,539 |
| 34 | Woodland | 6,487 | 117 | $81,193 | $589,005 | $1,367 |
| 35 | Ellensburg | 20,874 | 118 | $55,438 | $453,797 | $1,340 |
| 36 | Burlington | 10,003 | 118 | $80,475 | $539,012 | $1,746 |
| 37 | Mount Vernon | 35,377 | 119 | $75,777 | $586,879 | $1,405 |
| 38 | Pullman | 32,229 | 119 | $46,812 | $423,693 | $1,062 |
| 39 | East Wenatchee | 14,199 | 119 | $77,558 | $510,449 | $1,327 |
| 40 | Bremerton | 44,830 | 120 | $74,940 | $483,132 | $1,641 |
| 41 | Richland | 62,753 | 121 | $95,813 | $466,467 | $1,468 |
| 42 | Sedro-Woolley | 12,831 | 121 | $80,885 | $497,458 | $1,525 |
| 43 | Yelm | 11,102 | 121 | $90,750 | $489,021 | $1,626 |
| 44 | West Richland | 17,586 | 122 | $119,892 | $493,162 | $1,590 |
| 45 | Lakewood | 62,937 | 124 | $74,720 | $521,148 | $1,525 |
| 46 | Lacey | 57,737 | 124 | $90,625 | $516,096 | $1,870 |
| 47 | Oak Harbor | 24,362 | 124 | $76,084 | $528,587 | $1,645 |
| 48 | Sultan | 6,116 | 124 | $94,730 | $564,591 | $1,729 |
| 49 | Olympia | 55,951 | 125 | $81,302 | $533,713 | $1,599 |
| 50 | Port Townsend | 10,438 | 125 | $62,606 | $633,223 | $1,578 |
| 51 | Tacoma | 222,758 | 126 | $85,884 | $493,840 | $1,676 |
| 52 | Battle Ground | 21,886 | 126 | $104,977 | $606,387 | $1,576 |
| 53 | Pacific | 7,066 | 126 | $115,625 | $561,715 | $1,692 |
| 54 | Blaine | 6,100 | 126 | $84,030 | $541,720 | $1,450 |
| 55 | Tumwater | 26,956 | 127 | $95,212 | $526,058 | $1,779 |
| 56 | Tukwila | 21,451 | 127 | $78,381 | $575,995 | $1,898 |
| 57 | Washougal | 17,490 | 127 | $106,368 | $640,872 | $1,701 |
| 58 | Enumclaw | 12,798 | 127 | $121,250 | $680,130 | $1,954 |
| 59 | Liberty Lake | 12,737 | 127 | $118,723 | $558,764 | $1,895 |
| 60 | Fife | 10,949 | 127 | $90,532 | $557,639 | $1,889 |
| 61 | Vancouver | 195,300 | 128 | $81,338 | $509,318 | $1,702 |
| 62 | Puyallup | 42,746 | 128 | $97,826 | $570,442 | $1,812 |
| 63 | SeaTac | 32,414 | 128 | $81,104 | $553,220 | $1,660 |
| 64 | Ferndale | 15,999 | 128 | $87,579 | $616,287 | $1,477 |
| 65 | Orting | 8,978 | 128 | $132,877 | $560,311 | $2,284 |
| 66 | Fircrest | 7,069 | 128 | $113,926 | $623,545 | $1,554 |
| 67 | Arlington | 21,095 | 129 | $88,231 | $669,006 | $1,905 |
| 68 | Sumner | 10,733 | 129 | $98,191 | $593,648 | $1,974 |
| 69 | Milton | 8,894 | 130 | $96,540 | $572,123 | $2,199 |
| 70 | Port Orchard | 17,149 | 131 | $89,795 | $556,428 | $1,797 |
| 71 | Snohomish | 10,239 | 131 | $87,250 | $939,010 | $1,654 |
| 72 | DuPont | 9,931 | 131 | $120,781 | $621,242 | $2,322 |
| 73 | Stanwood | 8,373 | 131 | $90,242 | $715,579 | $1,766 |
| 74 | Everett | 111,845 | 132 | $83,512 | $662,786 | $1,740 |
| 75 | Marysville | 73,002 | 132 | $103,974 | $634,696 | $1,997 |
| 76 | Kent | 135,603 | 133 | $92,302 | $656,314 | $1,909 |
| 77 | Federal Way | 99,493 | 133 | $86,909 | $601,744 | $1,797 |
| 78 | Auburn | 85,676 | 133 | $97,884 | $614,182 | $1,786 |
| 79 | University Place | 34,911 | 133 | $99,031 | $661,410 | $1,762 |
| 80 | Lynden | 16,234 | 133 | $103,233 | $625,493 | $1,707 |
| 81 | Des Moines | 32,823 | 134 | $92,483 | $612,731 | $1,799 |
| 82 | Poulsbo | 12,165 | 135 | $116,250 | $665,803 | $1,886 |
| 83 | Buckley | 5,371 | 135 | $124,583 | $657,837 | $1,992 |
| 84 | Lake Stevens | 40,253 | 136 | $122,336 | $705,682 | $2,224 |
| 85 | Monroe | 19,755 | 136 | $110,461 | $733,030 | $1,950 |
| 86 | Edgewood | 13,032 | 136 | $116,132 | $737,911 | $2,034 |
| 87 | Steilacoom | 6,686 | 136 | $100,851 | $640,511 | $1,818 |
| 88 | Bonney Lake | 22,090 | 137 | $136,845 | $676,348 | $2,256 |
| 89 | Bellingham | 93,438 | 138 | $66,755 | $668,589 | $1,577 |
| 90 | Lynnwood | 40,110 | 138 | $77,704 | $784,107 | $1,742 |
| 91 | Anacortes | 17,966 | 138 | $91,951 | $725,456 | $1,702 |
| 92 | Mountlake Terrace | 23,104 | 139 | $107,687 | $699,079 | $2,004 |
| 93 | Burien | 51,513 | 140 | $91,318 | $650,469 | $1,782 |
| 94 | Camas | 27,007 | 140 | $141,126 | $751,543 | $2,090 |
| 95 | Covington | 21,233 | 140 | $134,502 | $678,607 | $2,232 |
| 96 | Ridgefield | 13,408 | 141 | $116,389 | $665,864 | $2,335 |
| 97 | Renton | 105,317 | 146 | $100,432 | $764,375 | $1,998 |
| 98 | Maple Valley | 28,287 | 148 | $152,885 | $799,653 | $2,304 |
| 99 | Black Diamond | 5,961 | 149 | $141,383 | $776,133 | $1,453 |
| 100 | Gig Harbor | 12,424 | 151 | $118,395 | $820,740 | $2,301 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, cost-of-living data. 122 places with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
Washington Affordability Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Washington for 2026, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Washington.
The cheapest cities in Washington are Clarkston, Toppenish, Omak, Hoquiam, Grandview, Aberdeen, Quincy, Union Gap, Sunnyside, and Ephrata.
