What is the cost of living in Wenatchee, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Wenatchee has an overall cost of living index of 115, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Wenatchee has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Wenatchee ranks as #36 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Wenatchee ranks as the #155 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Wenatchee, check out:
Wenatchee Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Wenatchee. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Wenatchee is 108.
The Groceries index in Wenatchee is 110.
The Health index in Wenatchee is 133.
The Housing index in Wenatchee is 113.
The Transportation index in Wenatchee is 106.
The Utilities index in Wenatchee is 109.
| Living Expense | Wenatchee | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 115 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 133 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 110 | 100 |
Wenatchee 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 Wenatchee Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Wenatchee, 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 Wenatchee is $491,477.
The Median Rent in Wenatchee is $1,248.
The Median Income in Wenatchee is $73,040.
The Home Value To Income in Wenatchee is 6.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Wenatchee is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Wenatchee | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $491,477 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,248 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $73,040 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.7x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Wenatchee, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Wenatchee Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Wenatchee | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.25 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.59 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $26.84 | $18 |
| Haircut | $30.16 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $47.67 | $45.56 |
Detailed Wenatchee Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Wenatchee | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.34 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.26 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.93 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.44 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.2 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.67 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.78 | $3.7 |
Detailed Wenatchee Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Wenatchee | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $211.72 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $183.18 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $123.42 | $113.29 |
Detailed Wenatchee Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Wenatchee | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $81.97 | $59.92 |
Detailed Wenatchee Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Wenatchee | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $139.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $200.22 | $192.25 |
Wenatchee SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Wenatchee
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Wenatchee. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Ellensburg, WA has a cost of living index of 118, 1.0x Wenatchee.
East Wenatchee, WA has a cost of living index of 119, 1.0x Wenatchee.
Ephrata, WA has a cost of living index of 105, 0.9x Wenatchee.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Wenatchee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellensburg, WA | 20,874 | 118 | 1.0x |
| East Wenatchee, WA | 14,199 | 119 | 1.0x |
| Ephrata, WA | 8,560 | 105 | 0.9x |
| Quincy, WA | 7,998 | 102 | 0.9x |
