What is the cost of living in Vancouver, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Vancouver has an overall cost of living index of 128, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Vancouver has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Vancouver ranks as #91 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Vancouver ranks as the #100 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Vancouver, check out:
Vancouver Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Vancouver. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Vancouver is 110.
The Groceries index in Vancouver is 109.
The Health index in Vancouver is 167.
The Housing index in Vancouver is 115.
The Transportation index in Vancouver is 109.
The Utilities index in Vancouver is 109.
| Living Expense | Vancouver | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 128 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 167 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 110 | 100 |
Vancouver 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 Vancouver Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Vancouver, 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 Vancouver is $509,318.
The Median Rent in Vancouver is $1,702.
The Median Income in Vancouver is $81,338.
The Home Value To Income in Vancouver is 6.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Vancouver is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Vancouver | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $509,318 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,702 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $81,338 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.3x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Vancouver, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Vancouver Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Vancouver | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.53 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.98 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.31 | $18 |
| Haircut | $41.22 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $60.58 | $45.56 |
Detailed Vancouver Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Vancouver | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.17 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.03 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.04 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.39 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.21 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $12.07 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.63 | $3.7 |
Detailed Vancouver Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Vancouver | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $131.94 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $188.49 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.08 | $113.29 |
Detailed Vancouver Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Vancouver | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.16 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $84.45 | $59.92 |
Detailed Vancouver Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Vancouver | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.73 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.36 | $192.25 |
Vancouver SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Vancouver
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Vancouver. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Lake Oswego, OR has a cost of living index of 166, 1.3x Vancouver.
Orchards, WA has a cost of living index of 128, 1.0x Vancouver.
Camas, WA has a cost of living index of 140, 1.1x Vancouver.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Vancouver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Oswego, OR | 40,381 | 166 | 1.3x |
| Orchards, WA | 29,438 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Camas, WA | 27,007 | 140 | 1.1x |
| West Linn, OR | 26,935 | 153 | 1.2x |
| Hazel Dell, WA | 23,237 | 123 | 1.0x |
| Battle Ground, WA | 21,886 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Five Corners, WA | 21,194 | 127 | 1.0x |
| Salmon Creek, WA | 20,017 | 129 | 1.0x |
| Washougal, WA | 17,490 | 127 | 1.0x |
| Minnehaha, WA | 11,482 | 126 | 1.0x |
