What is the cost of living in Ellensburg, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Ellensburg has an overall cost of living index of 118, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Ellensburg has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Ellensburg ranks as #45 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Ellensburg ranks as the #146 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Ellensburg, check out:
Ellensburg Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Ellensburg. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Ellensburg is 108.
The Groceries index in Ellensburg is 109.
The Health index in Ellensburg is 126.
The Housing index in Ellensburg is 111.
The Transportation index in Ellensburg is 113.
The Utilities index in Ellensburg is 118.
| Living Expense | Ellensburg | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 126 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 111 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 118 | 110 | 100 |
Ellensburg 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 Ellensburg Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Ellensburg, 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 Ellensburg is $453,797.
The Median Rent in Ellensburg is $1,340.
The Median Income in Ellensburg is $55,438.
The Home Value To Income in Ellensburg is 8.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Ellensburg is 0.29x.
| Statistic | Ellensburg | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $453,797 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,340 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $55,438 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.2x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.29x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Ellensburg, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Ellensburg Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Ellensburg | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.17 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.58 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.45 | $18 |
| Haircut | $31.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $35.69 | $45.56 |
Detailed Ellensburg Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Ellensburg | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.39 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.52 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.07 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.43 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.43 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.49 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.97 | $3.7 |
Detailed Ellensburg Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Ellensburg | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $191.81 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $151.56 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $123.54 | $113.29 |
Detailed Ellensburg Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Ellensburg | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.21 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.61 | $59.92 |
Detailed Ellensburg Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Ellensburg | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $169.17 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.47 | $192.25 |
Ellensburg SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Ellensburg
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Ellensburg. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Yakima, WA has a cost of living index of 107, 0.9x Ellensburg.
Wenatchee, WA has a cost of living index of 115, 1.0x Ellensburg.
East Wenatchee, WA has a cost of living index of 119, 1.0x Ellensburg.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Ellensburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima, WA | 96,961 | 107 | 0.9x |
| Wenatchee, WA | 35,484 | 115 | 1.0x |
| East Wenatchee, WA | 14,199 | 119 | 1.0x |
| Terrace Heights, WA | 10,041 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Toppenish, WA | 8,723 | 99 | 0.8x |
| Selah, WA | 8,437 | 117 | 1.0x |
| Quincy, WA | 7,998 | 102 | 0.9x |
| Union Gap, WA | 6,584 | 102 | 0.9x |
