Cost of Living in the West Coast
California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii & Alaska
Photo: Craig Melville / UnsplashThe West Coast — California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii & Alaska — covers 18 cities we track across 5 states. Median one-bedroom rent across those cities is $1,429 — 26% higher than the $1,130 median across the 6 regions we track.
The cheapest city we track in the West Coast is Spokane, WA, at $903/mo for a one-bedroom; the priciest is San Francisco, CA, at $2,425/mo. Median household income across the region's tracked cities is $83,913, 28% higher than the $65,767 median across all regions.
Region Medians
Median 1BR Rent
$1,429
Median Home Value
$521,100
Median Income
$83,913
Medians across the 18 cities we track in the West Coast — not a population-weighted regional figure.
States in the West Coast
Cities in the West Coast
- Los Angeles, CA1BR $1,688
- San Diego, CA1BR $1,883
- San Francisco, CA1BR $2,425
- Seattle, WA1BR $1,858
- Portland, OR1BR $1,440
- Fresno, CA1BR $1,042
- Sacramento, CA1BR $1,418
- Long Beach, CA1BR $1,634
- Bakersfield, CA1BR $1,007
- Anaheim, CA1BR $1,764
- Honolulu, HI1BR $1,570
- Santa Ana, CA1BR $2,232
- Anchorage, AK1BR $1,052
- Spokane, WA1BR $903
- Tacoma, WA1BR $1,332
- Eugene, OR1BR $1,080
- Salem, OR1BR $989
- Hilo, HI1BR $964
West Coast cost of living — FAQ
- Is the West Coast expensive to live in?
- The West Coast is among the most expensive of the 6 US regions we track. Its median one-bedroom rent of $1,429 ranks #1 of 6 and is 26% higher than the $1,130 median.
- What is the cheapest city to live in in the West Coast?
- Spokane, WA is the cheapest of the cities we track in the West Coast, with a one-bedroom rent of $903 a month.
- What is the most expensive city in the West Coast?
- San Francisco, CA is the priciest of the cities we track in the West Coast, with a one-bedroom rent of $2,425 a month.
- Which states are in the West Coast?
- We track cities in 5 states in the West Coast: California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii & Alaska.
Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).