What is the cost of living in Tacoma, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Tacoma has an overall cost of living index of 126, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Tacoma has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Tacoma ranks as #74 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Tacoma ranks as the #117 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Tacoma, check out:
Tacoma Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Tacoma. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Tacoma is 105.
The Groceries index in Tacoma is 109.
The Health index in Tacoma is 158.
The Housing index in Tacoma is 118.
The Transportation index in Tacoma is 111.
The Utilities index in Tacoma is 113.
| Living Expense | Tacoma | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 126 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 158 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 111 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 110 | 100 |
Tacoma 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 Tacoma Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Tacoma, 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 Tacoma is $493,839.
The Median Rent in Tacoma is $1,676.
The Median Income in Tacoma is $85,884.
The Home Value To Income in Tacoma is 5.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Tacoma is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Tacoma | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $493,839 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,676 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $85,884 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.8x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Tacoma, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Tacoma Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Tacoma | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.38 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.92 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.09 | $18 |
| Haircut | $23.76 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $54.27 | $45.56 |
Detailed Tacoma Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Tacoma | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.71 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.55 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.14 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $3.87 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.13 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.74 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $4.15 | $3.7 |
Detailed Tacoma Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Tacoma | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $191.81 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $192.99 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $127.12 | $113.29 |
Detailed Tacoma Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Tacoma | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.2 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $78.74 | $59.92 |
Detailed Tacoma Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Tacoma | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $169.3 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $204.78 | $192.25 |
Tacoma SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Tacoma
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Tacoma. 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 Tacoma.
Puyallup, WA has a cost of living index of 128, 1.0x Tacoma.
Parkland, WA has a cost of living index of 118, 0.9x Tacoma.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Tacoma |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood, WA | 62,937 | 124 | 1.0x |
| Puyallup, WA | 42,746 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Parkland, WA | 38,742 | 118 | 0.9x |
| University Place, WA | 34,911 | 133 | 1.1x |
| Frederickson, WA | 25,383 | 125 | 1.0x |
| Gig Harbor, WA | 12,424 | 151 | 1.2x |
| Fife, WA | 10,949 | 127 | 1.0x |
| Sumner, WA | 10,733 | 129 | 1.0x |
| Midland, WA | 9,050 | 118 | 0.9x |
| Summit View, WA | 8,480 | 124 | 1.0x |
