What is the cost of living in Renton, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Renton has an overall cost of living index of 146, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Renton has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Renton ranks as #146 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Renton ranks as the #45 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Renton, check out:
Renton Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Renton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Renton is 111.
The Groceries index in Renton is 113.
The Health index in Renton is 219.
The Housing index in Renton is 114.
The Transportation index in Renton is 110.
The Utilities index in Renton is 117.
| Living Expense | Renton | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 146 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 219 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 114 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 110 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 117 | 110 | 100 |
Renton 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 Renton Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Renton, 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 Renton is $764,374.
The Median Rent in Renton is $1,998.
The Median Income in Renton is $100,432.
The Home Value To Income in Renton is 7.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Renton is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Renton | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $764,374 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,998 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $100,432 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.6x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Renton, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Renton Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Renton | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.24 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.87 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $17.56 | $18 |
| Haircut | $32.12 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $43.48 | $45.56 |
Detailed Renton Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Renton | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.66 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.78 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.85 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.43 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.86 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.77 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.46 | $3.7 |
Detailed Renton Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Renton | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $242.14 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $139.77 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $164.3 | $113.29 |
Detailed Renton Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Renton | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.39 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $77.69 | $59.92 |
Detailed Renton Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Renton | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $175.38 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $207.11 | $192.25 |
Renton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Renton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Renton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Tacoma, WA has a cost of living index of 126, 0.9x Renton.
Kent, WA has a cost of living index of 133, 0.9x Renton.
SeaTac, WA has a cost of living index of 128, 0.9x Renton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Renton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma, WA | 222,758 | 126 | 0.9x |
| Kent, WA | 135,603 | 133 | 0.9x |
| SeaTac, WA | 32,414 | 128 | 0.9x |
| Mercer Island, WA | 25,307 | 266 | 1.8x |
| Bainbridge Island, WA | 24,631 | 186 | 1.3x |
| Bonney Lake, WA | 22,090 | 137 | 0.9x |
| Tukwila, WA | 21,451 | 127 | 0.9x |
| Bryn Mawr-Skyway, WA | 17,638 | 146 | 1.0x |
| Newcastle, WA | 12,989 | 188 | 1.3x |
| Lake Tapps, WA | 12,798 | 149 | 1.0x |
