What is the cost of living in Port Townsend, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Port Townsend has an overall cost of living index of 125, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Port Townsend has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Port Townsend ranks as #70 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Port Townsend ranks as the #121 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Port Townsend, check out:
Port Townsend Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Port Townsend. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Port Townsend is 109.
The Groceries index in Port Townsend is 107.
The Health index in Port Townsend is 165.
The Housing index in Port Townsend is 110.
The Transportation index in Port Townsend is 109.
The Utilities index in Port Townsend is 106.
| Living Expense | Port Townsend | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 125 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 165 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 110 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 110 | 100 |
Port Townsend 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 Port Townsend Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Port Townsend, 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 Port Townsend is $633,222.
The Median Rent in Port Townsend is $1,578.
The Median Income in Port Townsend is $62,606.
The Home Value To Income in Port Townsend is 10.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Port Townsend is 0.3x.
| Statistic | Port Townsend | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $633,222 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,578 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $62,606 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.1x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.3x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Port Townsend, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Port Townsend Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Port Townsend | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.23 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.82 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.58 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.78 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $67.83 | $45.56 |
Detailed Port Townsend Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Port Townsend | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.76 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.22 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.98 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.43 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.95 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.47 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.48 | $3.7 |
Detailed Port Townsend Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Port Townsend | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $187.66 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $228.42 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $136.92 | $113.29 |
Detailed Port Townsend Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Port Townsend | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.35 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $87.22 | $59.92 |
Detailed Port Townsend Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Port Townsend | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $153.78 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $202.97 | $192.25 |
Port Townsend SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Port Townsend
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Port Townsend. 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, 1.0x Port Townsend.
Mount Vernon, WA has a cost of living index of 119, 1.0x Port Townsend.
Bainbridge Island, WA has a cost of living index of 186, 1.5x Port Townsend.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Port Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton, WA | 44,830 | 120 | 1.0x |
| Mount Vernon, WA | 35,377 | 119 | 1.0x |
| Bainbridge Island, WA | 24,631 | 186 | 1.5x |
| Oak Harbor, WA | 24,362 | 124 | 1.0x |
| Port Angeles, WA | 20,118 | 113 | 0.9x |
| Port Orchard, WA | 17,149 | 131 | 1.0x |
| Poulsbo, WA | 12,165 | 135 | 1.1x |
| Snohomish, WA | 10,239 | 131 | 1.0x |
| Burlington, WA | 10,003 | 118 | 0.9x |
| Sequim, WA | 8,161 | 109 | 0.9x |
