Living Cost Compare
Spokane

Washington

$1,070/mo est.

vs
West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,070 in Spokane, WA versus $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, Spokane, WA is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than West Valley City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,745 in Spokane, WA and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 26% higher in West Valley City, UT. Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$884
$1,085
+23% in West Valley City, UT
1 Bedroom
$903
$1,191
+32% in West Valley City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,192
$1,333
+12% in West Valley City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,442
$1,723
+19% in West Valley City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$326,200
$377,300
+16% in West Valley City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$65,745
$88,604
+35% in West Valley City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,660
$55,240
+1% in West Valley City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.2 yr
30.3 yr
+6.9 yr in Spokane, WA
Homeownership
58.3%
71.1%
+12.8 pp in West Valley City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.6%
15.7%
+16.9 pp in Spokane, WA
Avg Commute
21.2 min
22.2 min
+1.0 min in West Valley City, UT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
683.6
471.8
+31% in Spokane, WA
Property Crime
4,931.8
1,855.5
+62% 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
48.9°F
52.8°F
+3.9°F in West Valley City, UT
Annual Precipitation
17.8 in
16.1 in
+1.7 in in Spokane, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.26/gal
$4.27/gal
+19% in Spokane, WA

Area: Washington vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
13.4
+10% in Spokane, WA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$21.34
$11.84
+45% in Spokane, WA

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 / UT)
6.5%
6.1%
+0.4 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.50%
+4.5 pp in UT

Spokane vs West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Spokane or West Valley City?
Spokane, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below West Valley City, UT's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Spokane than in West Valley City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Spokane versus $48,000 in West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, Spokane or West Valley City?
Spokane is taxed under Washington's rules (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).