What is the cost of living in Olympia, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Olympia has an overall cost of living index of 125, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Olympia has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Olympia ranks as #70 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Olympia ranks as the #121 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Olympia, check out:
Olympia Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Olympia. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Olympia is 106.
The Groceries index in Olympia is 112.
The Health index in Olympia is 167.
The Housing index in Olympia is 112.
The Transportation index in Olympia is 109.
The Utilities index in Olympia is 113.
| Living Expense | Olympia | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 125 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 167 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 110 | 100 |
Olympia 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 Olympia Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Olympia, 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 Olympia is $533,713.
The Median Rent in Olympia is $1,599.
The Median Income in Olympia is $81,302.
The Home Value To Income in Olympia is 6.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Olympia is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Olympia | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $533,713 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,599 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $81,302 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.6x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Olympia, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Olympia Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Olympia | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.21 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.25 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $13.08 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.33 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $30.83 | $45.56 |
Detailed Olympia Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Olympia | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.83 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.44 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.86 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.15 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.32 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.62 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.47 | $3.7 |
Detailed Olympia Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Olympia | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $155.39 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $188.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.89 | $113.29 |
Detailed Olympia Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Olympia | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.37 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $69.72 | $59.92 |
Detailed Olympia Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Olympia | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $126.2 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.62 | $192.25 |
Olympia SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Olympia
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Olympia. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Lakewood, WA has a cost of living index of 124, 1.0x Olympia.
Lacey, WA has a cost of living index of 124, 1.0x Olympia.
Tumwater, WA has a cost of living index of 127, 1.0x Olympia.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Olympia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood, WA | 62,937 | 124 | 1.0x |
| Lacey, WA | 57,737 | 124 | 1.0x |
| Tumwater, WA | 26,956 | 127 | 1.0x |
| Fort Lewis, WA | 15,167 | 130 | 1.0x |
| Yelm, WA | 11,102 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Shelton, WA | 10,612 | 109 | 0.9x |
| DuPont, WA | 9,931 | 131 | 1.0x |
| Steilacoom, WA | 6,686 | 136 | 1.1x |
| Tanglewilde, WA | 6,314 | 121 | 1.0x |
