What is the cost of living in Manchester, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Manchester has an overall cost of living index of 127, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Manchester has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Manchester ranks as #82 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Manchester ranks as the #109 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Manchester, check out:
Manchester Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Manchester. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Manchester is 108.
The Groceries index in Manchester is 108.
The Health index in Manchester is 174.
The Housing index in Manchester is 110.
The Transportation index in Manchester is 106.
The Utilities index in Manchester is 110.
| Living Expense | Manchester | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 127 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 108 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 174 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 110 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 110 | 110 | 100 |
Manchester 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 Manchester Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Manchester, 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 Manchester is $509,043.
The Median Rent in Manchester is $1,740.
The Median Income in Manchester is $126,371.
The Home Value To Income in Manchester is 4.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Manchester is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Manchester | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $509,043 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,740 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $126,371 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.0x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Manchester, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Manchester Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Manchester | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.32 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.2 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $23.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $35.56 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $57.2 | $45.56 |
Detailed Manchester Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Manchester | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.76 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.2 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.02 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.41 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.44 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.94 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.97 | $3.7 |
Detailed Manchester Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Manchester | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $238.27 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $147.56 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $129.03 | $113.29 |
Detailed Manchester Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Manchester | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.38 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $65.96 | $59.92 |
Detailed Manchester Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Manchester | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $171.5 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $200.35 | $192.25 |
Manchester SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Manchester
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Manchester. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Bremerton, WA has a cost of living index of 120, 0.9x Manchester.
SeaTac, WA has a cost of living index of 128, 1.0x Manchester.
Bainbridge Island, WA has a cost of living index of 186, 1.5x Manchester.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton, WA | 44,830 | 120 | 0.9x |
| SeaTac, WA | 32,414 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Bainbridge Island, WA | 24,631 | 186 | 1.5x |
| Port Orchard, WA | 17,149 | 131 | 1.0x |
| Artondale, WA | 14,073 | 151 | 1.2x |
| Gig Harbor, WA | 12,424 | 151 | 1.2x |
| Poulsbo, WA | 12,165 | 135 | 1.1x |
| Vashon, WA | 9,934 | 152 | 1.2x |
| Parkwood, WA | 6,873 | 124 | 1.0x |
| Wollochet, WA | 6,689 | 159 | 1.3x |
