What is the cost of living in Chehalis, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Chehalis has an overall cost of living index of 110, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Chehalis has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Chehalis ranks as #25 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Chehalis ranks as the #166 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Chehalis, check out:
Chehalis Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Chehalis. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Chehalis is 106.
The Groceries index in Chehalis is 112.
The Health index in Chehalis is 108.
The Housing index in Chehalis is 113.
The Transportation index in Chehalis is 111.
The Utilities index in Chehalis is 113.
| Living Expense | Chehalis | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 110 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 108 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 111 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 110 | 100 |
Chehalis 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 Chehalis Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Chehalis, 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 Chehalis is $478,650.
The Median Rent in Chehalis is $1,102.
The Median Income in Chehalis is $73,702.
The Home Value To Income in Chehalis is 6.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Chehalis is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Chehalis | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $478,650 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,102 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $73,702 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.5x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Chehalis, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Chehalis Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Chehalis | 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 Chehalis Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Chehalis | 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 Chehalis Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Chehalis | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $155.39 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $188.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.89 | $113.29 |
Detailed Chehalis Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Chehalis | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.37 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $69.72 | $59.92 |
Detailed Chehalis Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Chehalis | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $126.2 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.62 | $192.25 |
Chehalis SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Chehalis
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Chehalis. 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 Chehalis.
Centralia, WA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.0x Chehalis.
Aberdeen, WA has a cost of living index of 102, 0.9x Chehalis.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Chehalis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkland, WA | 38,742 | 118 | 1.1x |
| Centralia, WA | 18,830 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Aberdeen, WA | 17,088 | 102 | 0.9x |
| 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 | 1.1x |
| Rochester, WA | 5,834 | 118 | 1.1x |
