Is it cheaper to live in Tacoma or Washington?

Tacoma, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Tacoma than in Washington?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Tacoma versus $75,000 in Washington.

Which has lower taxes, Tacoma or Washington?

Tacoma is taxed under Washington's rules (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Tacoma vs Washington Cost of Living 2026

Tacoma

Washington

$1,500/mo est.

Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,500 in Tacoma, WA versus $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Tacoma, WA is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,857 in Tacoma, WA and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 21% higher in Washington, DC. Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Tacoma, WA

Washington, DC

Rent

Studio

$1,178

$1,763

+50% in Washington, DC

1 Bedroom

$1,332

$1,885

+42% in Washington, DC

2 Bedroom

$1,693

$1,949

+15% in Washington, DC

3 Bedroom

$2,094

$2,249

+7% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$454,600

$724,600

+59% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income

$83,857

$106,287

+27% in Washington, DC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$72,610

$71,060

+2% in Tacoma, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.3 yr

34.9 yr

+2.4 yr in Tacoma, WA

Homeownership

56.5%

41.1%

+15.4 pp in Tacoma, WA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.5%

63.6%

+30.1 pp in Washington, DC

Avg Commute

29.0 min

30.3 min

+1.3 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,064.4

936.3

+12% in Tacoma, WA

Property Crime

5,695.2

3,627.9

+36% 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

52.1°F

58.2°F

+6.1°F in Washington, DC

Annual Precipitation

43.0 in

39.7 in

+3.3 in in Tacoma, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.12/gal

$3.86/gal

+25% in Tacoma, WA

Area: Washington vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs WMATA (Metrobus) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

25.4

+70% in Washington, DC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.41

$22.01

+8% in Washington, DC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Tacoma, WA

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Tacoma, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Washington, DC

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Tacoma, WA

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Tacoma, WA

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Tacoma, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WA / DC)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

10.75%

+10.8 pp in DC

Tacoma vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Tacoma or Washington?: Tacoma, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Tacoma than in Washington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Tacoma versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Tacoma or Washington?: Tacoma is taxed under Washington's rules (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).