What is the cost of living in Mercer Island, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Mercer Island has an overall cost of living index of 266, which is 2.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Mercer Island has a cost of living index that's 2.2x higher than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Mercer Island ranks as #191 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Mercer Island ranks as the #0 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Mercer Island, check out:
Mercer Island Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Mercer Island. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Mercer Island is 112.
The Groceries index in Mercer Island is 113.
The Health index in Mercer Island is 609.
The Housing index in Mercer Island is 120.
The Transportation index in Mercer Island is 116.
The Utilities index in Mercer Island is 120.
| Living Expense | Mercer Island | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 266 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 609 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 120 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 120 | 110 | 100 |
Mercer Island 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 Mercer Island Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Mercer Island, 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 Mercer Island is $2,326,984.
The Median Rent in Mercer Island is $2,502.
The Median Income in Mercer Island is $219,069.
The Home Value To Income in Mercer Island is 10.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Mercer Island is 0.14x.
| Statistic | Mercer Island | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $2,326,984 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,502 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $219,069 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.6x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.14x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Mercer Island, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Mercer Island Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Mercer Island | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.4 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.37 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.59 | $18 |
| Haircut | $50.2 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $72.25 | $45.56 |
Detailed Mercer Island Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Mercer Island | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.54 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.55 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.1 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.49 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.4 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $12.14 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.96 | $3.7 |
Detailed Mercer Island Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Mercer Island | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $198.49 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $236.25 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.39 | $113.29 |
Detailed Mercer Island Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Mercer Island | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.66 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $67.2 | $59.92 |
Detailed Mercer Island Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Mercer Island | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $193.41 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $202.97 | $192.25 |
Mercer Island SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Mercer Island
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Mercer Island. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Bellevue, WA has a cost of living index of 202, 0.8x Mercer Island.
Kent, WA has a cost of living index of 133, 0.5x Mercer Island.
Renton, WA has a cost of living index of 146, 0.5x Mercer Island.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Mercer Island |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue, WA | 151,847 | 202 | 0.8x |
| Kent, WA | 135,603 | 133 | 0.5x |
| Renton, WA | 105,317 | 146 | 0.5x |
| Auburn, WA | 85,676 | 133 | 0.5x |
| SeaTac, WA | 32,414 | 128 | 0.5x |
| Bainbridge Island, WA | 24,631 | 186 | 0.7x |
| Tukwila, WA | 21,451 | 127 | 0.5x |
| Bryn Mawr-Skyway, WA | 17,638 | 146 | 0.5x |
| Port Orchard, WA | 17,149 | 131 | 0.5x |
| White Center, WA | 14,886 | 140 | 0.5x |
