Living Cost Compare
Seattle

Washington

$2,030/mo est.

vs
Tacoma

Washington

$1,500/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,030 in Seattle, WA versus $1,500 in Tacoma, WA. Overall, Tacoma, WA is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $121,984 in Seattle, WA and $83,857 in Tacoma, WA — about 31% higher in Seattle, WA. Both cities are in Washington, so state taxes are identical: no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Seattle, WA
Tacoma, WA

Rent

Studio
$1,638
$1,178
+28% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$1,858
$1,332
+28% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$2,359
$1,693
+28% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$2,918
$2,094
+28% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$912,100
$454,600
+50% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$121,984
$83,857
+31% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$72,610
$72,610
about equal

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.5 yr
37.3 yr
+1.8 yr in Tacoma, WA
Homeownership
44.2%
56.5%
+12.3 pp in Tacoma, WA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
67.5%
33.5%
+34.0 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
26.6 min
29.0 min
+2.4 min in Tacoma, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
788.6
1,064.4
+35% in Tacoma, WA
Property Crime
5,108.8
5,695.2
+11% in Tacoma, WA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
53.5°F
52.1°F
+1.4°F in Seattle, WA
Annual Precipitation
37.7 in
43.0 in
+5.3 in in Tacoma, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.31/gal
$5.12/gal
+4% in Seattle, WA

Area: Seattle vs Washington.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.75
—

Adult base one-way fare — King County Metro vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
14.9
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.41
$20.41
about equal

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WA / WA)
6.5%
6.5%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

Seattle vs Tacoma — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Seattle or Tacoma?
Tacoma, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Seattle than in Tacoma?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $74,000 a year in Seattle versus $53,000 in Tacoma.
Which has lower taxes, Seattle or Tacoma?
Neither — both are in Washington, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).