What is the cost of living in Tumwater, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Tumwater has an overall cost of living index of 127, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Tumwater has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Tumwater ranks as #82 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Tumwater ranks as the #109 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Tumwater, check out:
Tumwater Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Tumwater. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Tumwater is 105.
The Groceries index in Tumwater is 113.
The Health index in Tumwater is 162.
The Housing index in Tumwater is 114.
The Transportation index in Tumwater is 109.
The Utilities index in Tumwater is 111.
| Living Expense | Tumwater | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 127 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 162 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 114 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 111 | 110 | 100 |
Tumwater 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 Tumwater Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Tumwater, 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 Tumwater is $526,057.
The Median Rent in Tumwater is $1,779.
The Median Income in Tumwater is $95,212.
The Home Value To Income in Tumwater is 5.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Tumwater is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Tumwater | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $526,057 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,779 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $95,212 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.5x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Tumwater, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Tumwater Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Tumwater | 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 Tumwater Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Tumwater | 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 Tumwater Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Tumwater | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $155.39 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $188.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.89 | $113.29 |
Detailed Tumwater Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Tumwater | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.37 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $69.72 | $59.92 |
Detailed Tumwater Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Tumwater | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $126.2 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.62 | $192.25 |
Tumwater SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Tumwater
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Tumwater. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Lacey, WA has a cost of living index of 124, 1.0x Tumwater.
Olympia, WA has a cost of living index of 125, 1.0x Tumwater.
Centralia, WA has a cost of living index of 106, 0.8x Tumwater.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Tumwater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lacey, WA | 57,737 | 124 | 1.0x |
| Olympia, WA | 55,951 | 125 | 1.0x |
| Centralia, WA | 18,830 | 106 | 0.8x |
| 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 |
| Tanglewilde, WA | 6,314 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Rochester, WA | 5,834 | 118 | 0.9x |
