California vs Washington
Side-by-side cost of living comparison.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
7.25%
6.5%
+0.8 pp in California
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
None
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,688
$1,858
+10% in Washington
Median Home Value
$771,700
$912,100
+18% in Washington
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$83,969
$121,984
+45% in Washington
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
64.4°F
53.5°F
+10.9°F in California
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 9/1 cities we track in California/Washington — not population-weighted statewide figures. Taxes are exact state-level rates. Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026.