What is the cost of living in Kelso, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Kelso has an overall cost of living index of 107, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Kelso has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Kelso ranks as #16 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Kelso ranks as the #175 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Kelso, check out:
Kelso Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Kelso. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Kelso is 106.
The Groceries index in Kelso is 110.
The Health index in Kelso is 98.
The Housing index in Kelso is 113.
The Transportation index in Kelso is 110.
The Utilities index in Kelso is 108.
| Living Expense | Kelso | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 107 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 98 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 110 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 110 | 100 |
Kelso 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 Kelso Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Kelso, 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 Kelso is $384,871.
The Median Rent in Kelso is $1,220.
The Median Income in Kelso is $66,751.
The Home Value To Income in Kelso is 5.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Kelso is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Kelso | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $384,871 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,220 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $66,751 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.8x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Kelso, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Kelso Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Kelso | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.53 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.98 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.31 | $18 |
| Haircut | $41.22 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $60.58 | $45.56 |
Detailed Kelso Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Kelso | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.17 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.03 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.04 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.39 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.21 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $12.07 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.63 | $3.7 |
Detailed Kelso Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Kelso | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $131.94 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $188.49 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.08 | $113.29 |
Detailed Kelso Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Kelso | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.16 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $84.45 | $59.92 |
Detailed Kelso Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Kelso | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.73 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.36 | $192.25 |
Kelso SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Kelso
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Kelso. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Longview, WA has a cost of living index of 108, 1.0x Kelso.
St. Helens, OR has a cost of living index of 114, 1.1x Kelso.
Columbia, PA has a cost of living index of 93, 0.9x Kelso.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Kelso |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longview, WA | 38,069 | 108 | 1.0x |
| St. Helens, OR | 14,258 | 114 | 1.1x |
| Columbia, PA | 10,278 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Woodland, WA | 6,487 | 117 | 1.1x |
