Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,070 in Spokane, WA versus $1,500 in Tacoma, WA. Overall, Spokane, WA is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tacoma, WA, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $65,745 in Spokane, WA and $83,857 in Tacoma, WA — about 22% higher in Tacoma, WA. Both cities are in Washington, so state taxes are identical: no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Washington vs Washington.
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Spokane vs Tacoma — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Spokane or Tacoma?
- Spokane, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Tacoma, WA's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Spokane than in Tacoma?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Spokane versus $53,000 in Tacoma.
- Which has lower taxes, Spokane 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).