What is the cost of living in Auburn, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Auburn has an overall cost of living index of 133, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Auburn has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Auburn ranks as #110 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Auburn ranks as the #81 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Auburn, check out:
Auburn Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Auburn. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Auburn is 106.
The Groceries index in Auburn is 107.
The Health index in Auburn is 178.
The Housing index in Auburn is 113.
The Transportation index in Auburn is 116.
The Utilities index in Auburn is 109.
| Living Expense | Auburn | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 133 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 178 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 110 | 100 |
Auburn 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 Auburn Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Auburn, 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 Auburn is $614,182.
The Median Rent in Auburn is $1,786.
The Median Income in Auburn is $97,884.
The Home Value To Income in Auburn is 6.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Auburn is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Auburn | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $614,182 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,786 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $97,884 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.3x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Auburn, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Auburn Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Auburn | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.24 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.87 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $17.56 | $18 |
| Haircut | $32.12 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $43.48 | $45.56 |
Detailed Auburn Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Auburn | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.66 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.78 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.85 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.43 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.86 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.77 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.46 | $3.7 |
Detailed Auburn Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Auburn | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $242.14 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $139.77 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $164.3 | $113.29 |
Detailed Auburn Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Auburn | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.39 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $77.69 | $59.92 |
Detailed Auburn Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Auburn | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $175.38 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $207.11 | $192.25 |
Auburn SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Auburn
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Auburn. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Tacoma, WA has a cost of living index of 126, 0.9x Auburn.
Kent, WA has a cost of living index of 133, 1.0x Auburn.
Federal Way, WA has a cost of living index of 133, 1.0x Auburn.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma, WA | 222,758 | 126 | 0.9x |
| Kent, WA | 135,603 | 133 | 1.0x |
| Federal Way, WA | 99,493 | 133 | 1.0x |
| Lakewood, WA | 62,937 | 124 | 0.9x |
| Puyallup, WA | 42,746 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Parkland, WA | 38,742 | 118 | 0.9x |
| Lakeland North, WA | 15,950 | 136 | 1.0x |
| Lakeland South, WA | 13,100 | 135 | 1.0x |
| Lake Tapps, WA | 12,798 | 149 | 1.1x |
| Gig Harbor, WA | 12,424 | 151 | 1.1x |
