What is the cost of living in Elk Plain, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Elk Plain has an overall cost of living index of 122, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Elk Plain has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Elk Plain ranks as #58 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Elk Plain ranks as the #133 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Elk Plain, check out:
Elk Plain Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Elk Plain. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Elk Plain is 105.
The Groceries index in Elk Plain is 107.
The Health index in Elk Plain is 154.
The Housing index in Elk Plain is 107.
The Transportation index in Elk Plain is 114.
The Utilities index in Elk Plain is 113.
| Living Expense | Elk Plain | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 122 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 154 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 114 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 110 | 100 |
Elk Plain 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 Elk Plain Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Elk Plain, 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 Elk Plain is $504,040.
The Median Rent in Elk Plain is $2,172.
The Median Income in Elk Plain is $107,313.
The Home Value To Income in Elk Plain is 4.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Elk Plain is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Elk Plain | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $504,040 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,172 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $107,313 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.7x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Elk Plain, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Elk Plain Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Elk Plain | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.38 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.92 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.09 | $18 |
| Haircut | $23.76 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $54.27 | $45.56 |
Detailed Elk Plain Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Elk Plain | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.71 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.55 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.14 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $3.87 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.13 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.74 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $4.15 | $3.7 |
Detailed Elk Plain Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Elk Plain | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $191.81 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $192.99 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $127.12 | $113.29 |
Detailed Elk Plain Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Elk Plain | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.2 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $78.74 | $59.92 |
Detailed Elk Plain Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Elk Plain | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $169.3 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $204.78 | $192.25 |
Elk Plain SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Elk Plain
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Elk Plain. 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, 1.0x Elk Plain.
South Hill, WA has a cost of living index of 133, 1.1x Elk Plain.
Lakewood, WA has a cost of living index of 124, 1.0x Elk Plain.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Elk Plain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma, WA | 222,758 | 126 | 1.0x |
| South Hill, WA | 68,025 | 133 | 1.1x |
| Lakewood, WA | 62,937 | 124 | 1.0x |
| Puyallup, WA | 42,746 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Parkland, WA | 38,742 | 118 | 1.0x |
| Graham, WA | 35,079 | 131 | 1.1x |
| Spanaway, WA | 34,019 | 120 | 1.0x |
| Frederickson, WA | 25,383 | 125 | 1.0x |
| Yelm, WA | 11,102 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Fife, WA | 10,949 | 127 | 1.0x |
