Is Spokane expensive to live in?

Spokane is around the middle of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $903 per month ranks #79 of 112 and is 16% lower than the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in Spokane?

Average rent in Spokane, WA runs a studio around $884, a one-bedroom around $903, a two-bedroom around $1,192, a three-bedroom around $1,442 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Spokane?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $903 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year. The median household income here is $65,745.

How much does it cost to live in Spokane per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Spokane is about $1,070 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Spokane, WA

Population 229,228 · Washington

~$1,070/mo est.1BR $903Home $326,200

Photo: Chris Johnson / Unsplash

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The cost of living in Spokane, WA is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $903 a month — 16% lower than the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $884 and two-bedrooms $1,192.

Median household income here is $65,745, 5% lower than the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,070 before food and transport. Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $903

Studio

$884

1 Bedroom

$903

2 Bedroom

$1,192

3 Bedroom

$1,442

Buying a Home$326,200

Median Home Value

$326,200

Income$65,745

Median Household Income

$65,745

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,660

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesWest

Milk (gal)

$4.82

Bread (lb)

$2.04

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

Average prices, West (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities14.9¢/kWh

Electricity

14.9¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$20.41/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$5.12/gal

Regular Gasoline (Washington)

$5.12/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

State Taxes (WA)6.5% sales

State Sales Tax

6.50%

State Income Tax (top rate)

None

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime683.6 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

683.6

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

4,931.8

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Spokane Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 37.2 yrs

Median Age

37.2 yrs

Homeownership

58.3%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.6%

Avg Commute

21.2 min

Climate48.9°F

Avg Annual Temperature

48.9°F

Annual Precipitation

17.8 in

Spokane cost of living — FAQ

Is Spokane expensive to live in?: Spokane is around the middle of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $903 per month ranks #79 of 112 and is 16% lower than the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Spokane?: Average rent in Spokane, WA runs a studio around $884, a one-bedroom around $903, a two-bedroom around $1,192, a three-bedroom around $1,442 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Spokane?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $903 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year. The median household income here is $65,745.
How much does it cost to live in Spokane per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Spokane is about $1,070 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Spokane with nearby cities

Spokane vs Seattle Spokane vs Tacoma Spokane vs Boise Spokane vs Portland Spokane vs Salem Spokane vs Eugene

Nearby cities

Seattle, WA 228 mi Tacoma, WA 236 mi Boise, ID 286 mi Portland, OR 290 mi Salem, OR 327 mi Eugene, OR 369 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.