What is the cost of living in University Place, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, University Place has an overall cost of living index of 133, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, University Place has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in University Place ranks as #110 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies University Place ranks as the #81 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in University Place, check out:
University Place Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in University Place. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in University Place is 107.
The Groceries index in University Place is 108.
The Health index in University Place is 188.
The Housing index in University Place is 112.
The Transportation index in University Place is 109.
The Utilities index in University Place is 112.
| Living Expense | University Place | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 133 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 108 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 188 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 112 | 110 | 100 |
University Place 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 University Place Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
University Place, 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 University Place is $661,409.
The Median Rent in University Place is $1,762.
The Median Income in University Place is $99,031.
The Home Value To Income in University Place is 6.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in University Place is 0.21x.
| Statistic | University Place | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $661,409 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,762 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $99,031 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.7x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
University Place, WA Costs By Category
Detailed University Place Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | University Place | 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 University Place Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | University Place | 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 University Place Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | University Place | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $191.81 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $192.99 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $127.12 | $113.29 |
Detailed University Place Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | University Place | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.2 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $78.74 | $59.92 |
Detailed University Place Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | University Place | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $169.3 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $204.78 | $192.25 |
University Place SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around University Place
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around University Place. 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 University Place.
Lakewood, WA has a cost of living index of 124, 0.9x University Place.
Parkland, WA has a cost of living index of 118, 0.9x University Place.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. University Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma, WA | 222,758 | 126 | 0.9x |
| Lakewood, WA | 62,937 | 124 | 0.9x |
| Parkland, WA | 38,742 | 118 | 0.9x |
| Gig Harbor, WA | 12,424 | 151 | 1.1x |
| Yelm, WA | 11,102 | 121 | 0.9x |
| 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 | 0.9x |
| Fircrest, WA | 7,069 | 128 | 1.0x |
