What is the cost of living in Moses Lake, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Moses Lake has an overall cost of living index of 108, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Moses Lake has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Moses Lake ranks as #18 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Moses Lake ranks as the #173 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Moses Lake, check out:
Moses Lake Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Moses Lake. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Moses Lake is 109.
The Groceries index in Moses Lake is 106.
The Health index in Moses Lake is 103.
The Housing index in Moses Lake is 112.
The Transportation index in Moses Lake is 105.
The Utilities index in Moses Lake is 108.
| Living Expense | Moses Lake | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 108 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 106 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 103 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 110 | 100 |
Moses Lake 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 Moses Lake Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Moses Lake, 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 Moses Lake is $364,481.
The Median Rent in Moses Lake is $1,216.
The Median Income in Moses Lake is $74,752.
The Home Value To Income in Moses Lake is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Moses Lake is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Moses Lake | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $364,481 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,216 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $74,752 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.9x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Moses Lake, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Moses Lake Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Moses Lake | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.41 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.36 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.56 | $18 |
| Haircut | $35.77 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $45.61 | $45.56 |
Detailed Moses Lake Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Moses Lake | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.7 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.2 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.12 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.46 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.15 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $12.18 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.96 | $3.7 |
Detailed Moses Lake Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Moses Lake | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $212.13 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $145.39 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $137.1 | $113.29 |
Detailed Moses Lake Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Moses Lake | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $62.99 | $59.92 |
Detailed Moses Lake Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Moses Lake | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $176.57 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $202.75 | $192.25 |
Moses Lake SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Moses Lake
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Moses Lake. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Othello, WA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.0x Moses Lake.
Ephrata, WA has a cost of living index of 105, 1.0x Moses Lake.
Quincy, WA has a cost of living index of 102, 0.9x Moses Lake.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Moses Lake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Othello, WA | 8,795 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Ephrata, WA | 8,560 | 105 | 1.0x |
| Quincy, WA | 7,998 | 102 | 0.9x |








