What is the cost of living in Birch Bay, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Birch Bay has an overall cost of living index of 123, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Birch Bay has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Birch Bay ranks as #61 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Birch Bay ranks as the #130 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Birch Bay, check out:
Birch Bay Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Birch Bay. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Birch Bay is 105.
The Groceries index in Birch Bay is 110.
The Health index in Birch Bay is 141.
The Housing index in Birch Bay is 117.
The Transportation index in Birch Bay is 113.
The Utilities index in Birch Bay is 118.
| Living Expense | Birch Bay | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 123 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 141 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 118 | 110 | 100 |
Birch Bay 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 Birch Bay Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Birch Bay, 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 Birch Bay is $507,979.
The Median Rent in Birch Bay is $1,222.
The Median Income in Birch Bay is $86,854.
The Home Value To Income in Birch Bay is 5.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Birch Bay is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Birch Bay | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $507,979 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,222 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $86,854 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.8x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Birch Bay, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Birch Bay Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Birch Bay | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.21 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.34 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.57 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.08 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $51.55 | $45.56 |
Detailed Birch Bay Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Birch Bay | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.04 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.19 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.95 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.4 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.85 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.4 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $4.05 | $3.7 |
Detailed Birch Bay Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Birch Bay | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $219.25 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $165.08 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $120.58 | $113.29 |
Detailed Birch Bay Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Birch Bay | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.11 | $59.92 |
Detailed Birch Bay Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Birch Bay | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $163.64 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $200.8 | $192.25 |
Birch Bay SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Birch Bay
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Birch Bay. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Bellingham, WA has a cost of living index of 138, 1.1x Birch Bay.
Mount Vernon, WA has a cost of living index of 119, 1.0x Birch Bay.
Oak Harbor, WA has a cost of living index of 124, 1.0x Birch Bay.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Birch Bay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WA | 93,438 | 138 | 1.1x |
| Mount Vernon, WA | 35,377 | 119 | 1.0x |
| Oak Harbor, WA | 24,362 | 124 | 1.0x |
| Anacortes, WA | 17,966 | 138 | 1.1x |
| Lynden, WA | 16,234 | 133 | 1.1x |
| Ferndale, WA | 15,999 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Sedro-Woolley, WA | 12,831 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Burlington, WA | 10,003 | 118 | 1.0x |
| Stanwood, WA | 8,373 | 131 | 1.1x |
| Blaine, WA | 6,100 | 126 | 1.0x |
