What is the cost of living in Centralia, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Centralia has an overall cost of living index of 106, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Centralia has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Centralia ranks as #13 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Centralia ranks as the #178 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Centralia, check out:
Centralia Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Centralia. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Centralia is 105.
The Groceries index in Centralia is 112.
The Health index in Centralia is 94.
The Housing index in Centralia is 113.
The Transportation index in Centralia is 109.
The Utilities index in Centralia is 111.
| Living Expense | Centralia | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 106 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 94 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 111 | 110 | 100 |
Centralia 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 Centralia Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Centralia, 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 Centralia is $395,612.
The Median Rent in Centralia is $1,084.
The Median Income in Centralia is $56,219.
The Home Value To Income in Centralia is 7.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Centralia is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Centralia | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $395,612 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,084 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $56,219 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.0x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Centralia, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Centralia Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Centralia | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.21 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.25 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $13.08 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.33 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $30.83 | $45.56 |
Detailed Centralia Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Centralia | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.83 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.44 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.86 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.15 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.32 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.62 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.47 | $3.7 |
Detailed Centralia Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Centralia | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $155.39 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $188.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.89 | $113.29 |
Detailed Centralia Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Centralia | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.37 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $69.72 | $59.92 |
Detailed Centralia Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Centralia | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $126.2 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.62 | $192.25 |
Centralia SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Centralia
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Centralia. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Parkland, WA has a cost of living index of 118, 1.1x Centralia.
Aberdeen, WA has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x Centralia.
Kelso, WA has a cost of living index of 107, 1.0x Centralia.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Centralia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkland, WA | 38,742 | 118 | 1.1x |
| Aberdeen, WA | 17,088 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Kelso, WA | 12,684 | 107 | 1.0x |
| Gig Harbor, WA | 12,424 | 151 | 1.4x |
| Fife, WA | 10,949 | 127 | 1.2x |
| Shelton, WA | 10,612 | 109 | 1.0x |
| Hoquiam, WA | 8,800 | 100 | 0.9x |
| Summit View, WA | 8,480 | 124 | 1.2x |
| Chehalis, WA | 7,587 | 110 | 1.0x |
| Rochester, WA | 5,834 | 118 | 1.1x |
