What is the cost of living in Burien, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Burien has an overall cost of living index of 140, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Burien has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Burien ranks as #137 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Burien ranks as the #54 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Burien, check out:
Burien Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Burien. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Burien is 108.
The Groceries index in Burien is 105.
The Health index in Burien is 206.
The Housing index in Burien is 113.
The Transportation index in Burien is 107.
The Utilities index in Burien is 109.
| Living Expense | Burien | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 140 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 105 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 206 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 110 | 100 |
Burien 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 Burien Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Burien, 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 Burien is $650,468.
The Median Rent in Burien is $1,782.
The Median Income in Burien is $91,318.
The Home Value To Income in Burien is 7.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Burien is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Burien | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $650,468 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,782 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $91,318 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.1x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Burien, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Burien Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Burien | 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 Burien Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Burien | 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 Burien Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Burien | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $242.14 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $139.77 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $164.3 | $113.29 |
Detailed Burien Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Burien | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.39 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $77.69 | $59.92 |
Detailed Burien Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Burien | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $175.38 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $207.11 | $192.25 |
Burien SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Burien
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Burien. 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 Burien.
Renton, WA has a cost of living index of 146, 1.0x Burien.
Bremerton, WA has a cost of living index of 120, 0.9x Burien.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Burien |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma, WA | 222,758 | 126 | 0.9x |
| Renton, WA | 105,317 | 146 | 1.0x |
| Bremerton, WA | 44,830 | 120 | 0.9x |
| Des Moines, WA | 32,823 | 134 | 1.0x |
| SeaTac, WA | 32,414 | 128 | 0.9x |
| Mercer Island, WA | 25,307 | 266 | 1.9x |
| Bainbridge Island, WA | 24,631 | 186 | 1.3x |
| Tukwila, WA | 21,451 | 127 | 0.9x |
| Bryn Mawr-Skyway, WA | 17,638 | 146 | 1.0x |
| Port Orchard, WA | 17,149 | 131 | 0.9x |
