What is the cost of living in Arlington, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Arlington has an overall cost of living index of 129, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Arlington has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Arlington ranks as #96 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Arlington ranks as the #95 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Arlington, check out:
Arlington Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Arlington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Arlington is 106.
The Groceries index in Arlington is 105.
The Health index in Arlington is 174.
The Housing index in Arlington is 112.
The Transportation index in Arlington is 108.
The Utilities index in Arlington is 108.
| Living Expense | Arlington | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 129 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 105 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 174 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 110 | 100 |
Arlington Cost Of Living Compared To Washington Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Washington, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Arlington Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Arlington, WA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Washington, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Arlington is $669,005.
The Median Rent in Arlington is $1,905.
The Median Income in Arlington is $88,231.
The Home Value To Income in Arlington is 7.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Arlington is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Arlington | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $669,005 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,905 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $88,231 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.6x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Arlington, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Arlington Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Arlington | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.21 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.43 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.08 | $18 |
| Haircut | $31.33 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $49.67 | $45.56 |
Detailed Arlington Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Arlington | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.18 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.23 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.87 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.43 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.35 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.13 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.89 | $3.7 |
Detailed Arlington Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Arlington | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $132.73 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $183.4 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $146.29 | $113.29 |
Detailed Arlington Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Arlington | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.14 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $65.57 | $59.92 |
Detailed Arlington Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Arlington | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $163.64 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $200.1 | $192.25 |
Arlington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Arlington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Arlington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Everett, WA has a cost of living index of 132, 1.0x Arlington.
Marysville, WA has a cost of living index of 132, 1.0x Arlington.
Lake Stevens, WA has a cost of living index of 136, 1.1x Arlington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everett, WA | 111,845 | 132 | 1.0x |
| Marysville, WA | 73,002 | 132 | 1.0x |
| Lake Stevens, WA | 40,253 | 136 | 1.1x |
| Mount Vernon, WA | 35,377 | 119 | 0.9x |
| Eastmont, WA | 23,721 | 149 | 1.2x |
| Mukilteo, WA | 21,323 | 166 | 1.3x |
| Snohomish, WA | 10,239 | 131 | 1.0x |
| Stanwood, WA | 8,373 | 131 | 1.0x |
| Lake Goodwin, WA | 5,536 | 144 | 1.1x |
