What is the cost of living in Yakima, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Yakima has an overall cost of living index of 107, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Yakima has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Yakima ranks as #16 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Yakima ranks as the #175 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Yakima, check out:
Yakima Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Yakima. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Yakima is 108.
The Groceries index in Yakima is 110.
The Health index in Yakima is 99.
The Housing index in Yakima is 109.
The Transportation index in Yakima is 113.
The Utilities index in Yakima is 118.
| Living Expense | Yakima | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 107 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 99 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 118 | 110 | 100 |
Yakima 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 Yakima Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Yakima, 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 Yakima is $359,875.
The Median Rent in Yakima is $1,117.
The Median Income in Yakima is $62,815.
The Home Value To Income in Yakima is 5.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Yakima is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Yakima | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $359,875 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,117 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $62,815 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.7x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Yakima, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Yakima Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Yakima | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.17 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.58 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.45 | $18 |
| Haircut | $31.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $35.69 | $45.56 |
Detailed Yakima Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Yakima | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.39 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.52 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.07 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.43 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.43 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.49 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.97 | $3.7 |
Detailed Yakima Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Yakima | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $191.81 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $151.56 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $123.54 | $113.29 |
Detailed Yakima Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Yakima | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.21 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.61 | $59.92 |
Detailed Yakima Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Yakima | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $169.17 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.47 | $192.25 |
Yakima SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Yakima
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Yakima. 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, 1.1x Yakima.
Sunnyside, WA has a cost of living index of 103, 1.0x Yakima.
Grandview, WA has a cost of living index of 101, 0.9x Yakima.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Yakima |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellensburg, WA | 20,874 | 118 | 1.1x |
| Sunnyside, WA | 16,277 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Grandview, WA | 11,187 | 101 | 0.9x |
| Terrace Heights, WA | 10,041 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Toppenish, WA | 8,723 | 99 | 0.9x |
| Selah, WA | 8,437 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Union Gap, WA | 6,584 | 102 | 1.0x |
