What is the cost of living in Yelm, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Yelm has an overall cost of living index of 121, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Yelm has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Yelm ranks as #54 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Yelm ranks as the #137 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Yelm, check out:
Yelm Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Yelm. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Yelm is 106.
The Groceries index in Yelm is 111.
The Health index in Yelm is 149.
The Housing index in Yelm is 110.
The Transportation index in Yelm is 108.
The Utilities index in Yelm is 107.
| Living Expense | Yelm | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 149 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 110 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 107 | 110 | 100 |
Yelm 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 Yelm Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Yelm, 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 Yelm is $489,021.
The Median Rent in Yelm is $1,626.
The Median Income in Yelm is $90,750.
The Home Value To Income in Yelm is 5.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Yelm is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Yelm | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $489,021 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,626 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $90,750 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.4x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Yelm, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Yelm Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Yelm | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.21 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.25 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $13.08 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.33 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $30.83 | $45.56 |
Detailed Yelm Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Yelm | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.83 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.44 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.86 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.15 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.32 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.62 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.47 | $3.7 |
Detailed Yelm Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Yelm | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $155.39 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $188.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.89 | $113.29 |
Detailed Yelm Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Yelm | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.37 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $69.72 | $59.92 |
Detailed Yelm Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Yelm | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $126.2 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.62 | $192.25 |
Yelm SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Yelm
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Yelm. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Lakewood, WA has a cost of living index of 124, 1.0x Yelm.
Lacey, WA has a cost of living index of 124, 1.0x Yelm.
Olympia, WA has a cost of living index of 125, 1.0x Yelm.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Yelm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood, WA | 62,937 | 124 | 1.0x |
| Lacey, WA | 57,737 | 124 | 1.0x |
| Olympia, WA | 55,951 | 125 | 1.0x |
| Parkland, WA | 38,742 | 118 | 1.0x |
| Graham, WA | 35,079 | 131 | 1.1x |
| Frederickson, WA | 25,383 | 125 | 1.0x |
| Fort Lewis, WA | 15,167 | 130 | 1.1x |
| Elk Plain, WA | 14,276 | 122 | 1.0x |
| DuPont, WA | 9,931 | 131 | 1.1x |
| Midland, WA | 9,050 | 118 | 1.0x |
