Is Tacoma expensive to live in?

Tacoma is among the most expensive of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,332 per month ranks #25 of 112 and is 23% higher than the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in Tacoma?

Average rent in Tacoma, WA runs a studio around $1,178, a one-bedroom around $1,332, a two-bedroom around $1,693, a three-bedroom around $2,094 per month (US Census ACS).

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

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,332 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year. The median household income here is $83,857.

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

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Tacoma is about $1,500 — 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 Tacoma, WA

Population 220,482 · Washington

~$1,500/mo est.1BR $1,332Home $454,600

Photo: Denisse Leon / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Tacoma, WA is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,332 a month — 23% higher than the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,178 and two-bedrooms $1,693.

Median household income here is $83,857, 21% higher 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 $1,500 before food and transport. Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,332

Studio

$1,178

1 Bedroom

$1,332

2 Bedroom

$1,693

3 Bedroom

$2,094

Buying a Home$454,600

Median Home Value

$454,600

Income$83,857

Median Household Income

$83,857

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$72,610

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.

Crime1,064.4 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

1,064.4

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

5,695.2

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

People & LifestyleAge 37.3 yrs

Median Age

37.3 yrs

Homeownership

56.5%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.5%

Avg Commute

29.0 min

Climate52.1°F

Avg Annual Temperature

52.1°F

Annual Precipitation

43.0 in

Tacoma cost of living — FAQ

Is Tacoma expensive to live in?: Tacoma is among the most expensive of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,332 per month ranks #25 of 112 and is 23% higher than the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Tacoma?: Average rent in Tacoma, WA runs a studio around $1,178, a one-bedroom around $1,332, a two-bedroom around $1,693, a three-bedroom around $2,094 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Tacoma?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,332 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year. The median household income here is $83,857.
How much does it cost to live in Tacoma per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Tacoma is about $1,500 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Tacoma with nearby cities

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

Nearby cities

Seattle, WA 25 mi Portland, OR 121 mi Salem, OR 162 mi Eugene, OR 223 mi Spokane, WA 236 mi Boise, ID 393 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.