Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Spokane?

Spokane, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Spokane?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $36,000 in Spokane.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Spokane?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Spokane under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Spokane Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

Spokane

Washington

$1,070/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Arlington, TX versus $1,070 in Spokane, WA. Overall, Spokane, WA is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $65,745 in Spokane, WA — about 11% higher in Arlington, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Spokane, WA

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$884

+19% in Arlington, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$903

+24% in Arlington, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$1,192

+15% in Arlington, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,442

+21% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$326,200

+18% in Spokane, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$65,745

+11% in Arlington, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$54,660

+6% in Spokane, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

37.2 yr

+3.6 yr in Spokane, WA

Homeownership

54.8%

58.3%

+3.5 pp in Spokane, WA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

32.6%

+0.5 pp in Arlington, TX

Avg Commute

26.7 min

21.2 min

+5.5 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

494.2

683.6

+38% in Spokane, WA

Property Crime

2,434.5

4,931.8

+103% in Spokane, WA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

48.9°F

+16.5°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

17.8 in

+21.8 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.12/gal

+42% in Spokane, WA

Area: Texas vs Washington.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

—

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

14.9

+9% in Arlington, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$20.41

+33% in Arlington, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Spokane, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Spokane, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Arlington, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Spokane, WA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Spokane, WA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Spokane, WA

Average prices — South vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / WA)

6.25%

6.5%

+0.3 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Arlington vs Spokane — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Spokane?: Spokane, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Spokane?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $36,000 in Spokane.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Spokane?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Spokane under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).