What is the cost of living in White Center, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, White Center has an overall cost of living index of 140, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, White Center has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in White Center ranks as #137 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies White Center ranks as the #54 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in White Center, check out:
White Center Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in White Center. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in White Center is 106.
The Groceries index in White Center is 107.
The Health index in White Center is 206.
The Housing index in White Center is 115.
The Transportation index in White Center is 109.
The Utilities index in White Center is 107.
| Living Expense | White Center | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 140 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 206 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 107 | 110 | 100 |
White Center 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 White Center Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
White Center, 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 White Center is $686,814.
The Median Rent in White Center is $1,595.
The Median Income in White Center is $87,189.
The Home Value To Income in White Center is 7.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in White Center is 0.22x.
| Statistic | White Center | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $686,814 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,595 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $87,189 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.9x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
White Center, WA Costs By Category
Detailed White Center Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | White Center | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.4 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.37 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.59 | $18 |
| Haircut | $50.2 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $72.25 | $45.56 |
Detailed White Center Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | White Center | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.54 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.55 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.1 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.49 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.4 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $12.14 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.96 | $3.7 |
Detailed White Center Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | White Center | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $198.49 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $236.25 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.39 | $113.29 |
Detailed White Center Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | White Center | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.66 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $67.2 | $59.92 |
Detailed White Center Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | White Center | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $193.41 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $202.97 | $192.25 |
White Center SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around White Center
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around White Center. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Seattle, WA has a cost of living index of 181, 1.3x White Center.
Tacoma, WA has a cost of living index of 126, 0.9x White Center.
Renton, WA has a cost of living index of 146, 1.0x White Center.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. White Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | 754,195 | 181 | 1.3x |
| Tacoma, WA | 222,758 | 126 | 0.9x |
| Renton, WA | 105,317 | 146 | 1.0x |
| Burien, WA | 51,513 | 140 | 1.0x |
| Bremerton, WA | 44,830 | 120 | 0.9x |
| Des Moines, WA | 32,823 | 134 | 1.0x |
| SeaTac, WA | 32,414 | 128 | 0.9x |
| Mercer Island, WA | 25,307 | 266 | 1.9x |
| Bainbridge Island, WA | 24,631 | 186 | 1.3x |
| Tukwila, WA | 21,451 | 127 | 0.9x |
