Don’t forget about the Tacoma cost of living! Residents living in Tacoma, WA call it the “City of Destiny.” If you’re considering calling this great area home, there are likely some things you’ll want to know first. The cost of living in Tacoma Washington is one such thing. According to Apartment List, Tacoma was the 17th most expensive city in America in 2023.
Households relocating from another region should also budget for long distance moving costs to Tacoma, which can vary based on travel distance, shipment size, property access, and any packing or storage services required.
The cost of living in Tacoma Washington is higher than the national average. Factors like housing, utilities, and healthcare have driven the Tacoma cost of living up. However, the Tacoma cost of living is more nuanced than it seems. Is Tacoma Washington expensive? What is the cost of living in Tacoma Washington for families with children and singles? How does the Tacoma WA cost of living vary based on your lifestyle?
With this comprehensive guide, you can learn everything you’ll want to know about the average cost of living in Tacoma Washington. You can learn about average expenses, the Tacoma real estate market, and more. Take a look and see if this is your “city of destiny!”
Tacoma Cost of Living Index
Determining the cost of living in Tacoma depends on where you decide to live, your lifestyle choices, and the number of people in your household. But one of the best ways to determine whether you can live comfortably in Tacoma is by reviewing the Tacoma cost of living index. This unique system allows you to compare the Tacoma cost of living to the national average.
The Tacoma cost of living index is 120.1, meaning that items in the area cost 20.1% more than the national average. Utilities have an index of 94.8, meaning utilities in Tacoma cost 5.2% less than the national average. All other subindexes for the Tacoma cost of living are more expensive than the national average. Housing has an index of 132.8, meaning that homes for sale in Tacoma cost 32.8% more than the national average.
According to this index, a cost of living comparison between Tacoma and Seattle shows that Tacoma is less expensive to live in. The biggest difference for the Tacoma cost of living is its much more affordable housing market than the big city.
The cost of living index is a good baseline for the Tacoma cost of living. But you should look at a few other indexes and statistics so you have a well-rounded appreciation of the cost of living in Tacoma Washington.
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Consumer Price Index
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures how the price of goods changes over time. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the CPI for the Seattle-Tacoma area increased by 2.7% between December 2023 and December 2024. However, the CPI declined by 0.5% between October and December 2024. This was the first decline in the CPI in the Seattle-Tacoma area since December 2020. This decline suggests that common items like groceries and electricity will become more affordable as time goes on.
Consumer Expenditures Survey
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also runs the Consumer Expenditures Survey (CES). The bureau asks shoppers about how much they spend on common items and how much their expenses are every year. The survey breaks down the cost of many common items, letting you calculate your Tacoma cost of living dollar for dollar.
The CES for 2022-2023 revealed that the average Seattle-Tacoma household spent $101,306 per year in 2022 and 2023. The average household in Seattle-Tacoma also made $132,318 per year in 2022 and 2023. Here are the breakdowns for expenditures:
| Expenditure | Dollars spent per year | Percentage of total expenses | Percentage of total income |
| Housing | $35,070 | 34.6% | 26.5% |
| Food | $12,756 | 12.6% | 9.6% |
| Transportation | $13,353 | 13.2% | 10.1% |
| Healthcare | $6,236 | 6.2% | 4.7% |
| Utilities | $4,497 | 4.4% | 3.4% |
| Entertainment | $7,108 | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Education | $1,794 | 1.8% | 1.4% |
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Family Budget Calculator
The Economic Policy Institute’s Family Budget Calculator calculates how much a family would need to make to cover their Tacoma cost of living. A family of four (two adults and two children) living in the Tacoma area would need to earn $135,873 a year to cover their Tacoma cost of living. Here are the itemized expenses:
| Expense | Cost per month | Cost per year |
| Housing | $1,987 | $23,844 |
| Food | $1,117 | $13,404 |
| Child care | $3,007 | $36,084 |
| Transportation | $1,503 | $18,036 |
| Healthcare | $1,180 | $14,160 |
| Taxes | $1,486 | $17,832 |
| Other necessities | $1,044 | $12,528 |
Child care is the single largest expense in Tacoma. This means that singles, couples, and retirees living without children will have a substantially lower Tacoma cost of living. They won’t need to pay for child care, and they can buy a smaller home and spend less on food. According to the Cost of Living Calculator, Tacoma has a lower cost of living than Seattle, where a family of four needs to earn $151,928 a year.
Cost of Items in Tacoma
Before moving to Tacoma, you should understand what you can expect to pay. This will help you determine your Tacoma cost of living dollar for dollar. This list will give you an idea of the cost of items in Tacoma:
- Steak (Ribeye, 1lb.): $14.16
- Milk (regular 1/2 gallon): $5.14
- Eggs (1 Dozen): $4.56
- Potatoes (5 lb bag): $3.87
- Bread (1 loaf): $4.60
- Average Cost of Gasoline (per gallon): $4.47
- Average Cost of Utilities (per month): $229.80
- McDonald’s Burger (1/4 Pounder): $6.42
- Large Pizza: $15.13
- Movie Ticket (1st run): $11.92
- One-ride ticket for Pierce Transit: $2.00
- Monthly ticket for Pierce Transit local services: $62.00
- Average car insurance premium per month: $50.00
- Average cell phone bill per month: $71.50
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Tacoma Real Estate Market
With a nearly even split population of homeowners and renters, the homeownership rate in Tacoma, WA is 57.0. The Tacoma housing market is hot as Tacoma homes for sale are only listed for an average of 25 days.
Currently, the average price of Tacoma homes for sale is $462,000, which is an increase of about 6.2% over the past year. The average home price in Tacoma WA equals out to about $310 per square foot. Single family homes for sale have a median cost of $470,000. Townhomes have a Tacoma median home price of $446,450, while condos have a Tacoma median home price of $377,500.
The price-to-rent ratio can help you determine whether to buy or rent Tacoma real estate and afford the Tacoma cost of living. The ratio is the median home price divided by the median annual rent, which is $20,256. The ratio in Tacoma is 22.8, meaning it’s more affordable to rent than to buy real estate.
Affordable Tacoma neighborhoods include South Tacoma (Tacoma median home price of $395,000) and Eastside ($425,000). Expensive and upscale Tacoma neighborhoods include North End ($650,000), Northeast Tacoma ($665,000), and Old Town ($940,000). While these neighborhoods may have a high Tacoma cost of living and high Tacoma real estate costs, they are among the best neighborhoods in Tacoma.
Tacoma Rental Market – Average Rent in Tacoma WA
Now that you know what to expect when it comes to buying a home, how much is an apartment in Tacoma? With 43% of residents renting their living spaces, you should study the average cost of rent in Tacoma WA.
The average price of Tacoma rent is around $1,688 per month. You’ll see a range of prices when you’re shopping for properties for rent in Tacoma. One-bedroom Tacoma apartments cost $950-$4,997 per month, while two-bedroom apartments cost $1,200-$6,080 per month.
In addition to monthly rent, renters should budget for the cost of moving an apartment in Tacoma, which can vary based on the apartment size, travel distance, building access, parking, stairs, and elevators.
The 2025 ATTOM Affordability Report found that it is cheaper to rent than to buy real estate in the Tacoma area. Tacoma consumers spend roughly 32.2% of their income on Tacoma rent, while monthly home payments can cost 50.3% of consumers’ income.
The Seattle average rent is $2,290 a month, so Tacoma rent is over $600 a month cheaper. The rent in Tacoma is also cheaper than major cities like San Francisco and other cities in Pierce County. Rent in Tacoma is also $60 a month cheaper than the national average.
The Out of Reach Report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition calculates the housing wage for Washington State. The minimum wage in Washington is $16.28 per hour, meaning you need to work 83 hours at minimum wage to rent a one-bedroom rental home. The housing wage for a one-bedroom home is $33.77 per hour or an annual salary of $70,248. You can cover your Tacoma cost of living if you’re working a low-income job by finding a roommate.
Do you want to move to a new location and enjoy affordable rent in Tacoma? Contact All Ready Moving and start your move now!
Average Salary & Household Income in Tacoma
Wondering how much you need to make to live in Tacoma? Since you know the Tacoma cost of living, the next step is to determine if you can afford to live here based on your income.
According to Payscale, the average salary in Tacoma is $75,000 per year with an average base hourly rate of $23.17. On the other hand, the median household income in Tacoma is $83,857 per year. This means many people can pay off the Tacoma cost of living. A couple of the top employers in Tacoma are the McChord Air Force Base as well as the MultiCare Health System hospitals. As the seat of Pierce County, numerous government jobs can be found in the area as well.
According to DataUSA, the most common industries contributing to the median salary in Tacoma are utilities, business administration, and public administration. The highest-paying Tacoma jobs include executive directors (average salary of $90,832), information technology managers ($88,065), and project managers ($81,811). All of these professionals tend to afford the Tacoma cost of living comfortably.
Income, Sales, & Property Taxes in Tacoma, WA
Washington Income Tax Rate
As one of the seven states that don’t have a personal income tax, you won’t see this on your paystubs when you live in Tacoma, WA. This makes the cost of living in Tacoma Washington more affordable.
Are you ready to enjoy low income tax rates in Tacoma? Call 360-507-2447 and save money now!
Tacoma Sales Tax
According to Fox13 Seattle, Tacoma has a combined sales tax rate of 10.3%, one of the highest amongst major American cities. The sales tax in Tacoma WA has stayed consistent in recent years, keeping the cost of living in Tacoma Washington affordable. Seattle’s combined sales tax rate is 10.35%, which is the highest among major American cities. The combined Tacoma sales tax rate includes the Washington sales tax, Pierce County sales tax, and the local Tacoma rate:
- Washington State sales tax rate: 6.500%
- Pierce County sales tax rate: 1.600%
- Tacoma sales tax rate: 2.200%
- Total sales tax 10.300%
Tacoma Property Tax
There are 121 taxing districts in Pierce County, each with its own levies. This means that Pierce County property taxes can vary significantly depending on where you live. According to Pierce County Councilor Marty Campbell, the average Pierce County property tax rate per household in 2023 was $10.10 per $1,000 value. That’s 37 cents over 2013’s level. The average homeowner in Tacoma paid $5,319.63 in Tacoma property taxes in 2024, up by $75.17 in 2023. Despite the increase in the Tacoma property tax rate, Tacoma homeowners paid less in property taxes than the countywide average or state average. The low Tacoma property tax rate means the cost of living in Tacoma Washington can be affordable for homeowners over time.
Are you ready to benefit from the affordable Tacoma tax rate? Schedule an appointment with All Ready Moving now!
Tacoma vs. Seattle Cost of Living
What is the cost of living in Tacoma Washington vs. the Seattle cost of living? Tacoma is usually much more affordable than Seattle. Here is the Tacoma cost of living vs. the Seattle cost of living:
| Expense | Tacoma Cost of Living | Seattle Cost of Living |
| Median cost of homes for sale | $462,000 | $837,500 |
| Median price of homes per square foot | $310 | $559 |
| Average cost of apartments per month | $1,688 | $2,290 |
| 1 pound of white rice | $2.96 | $2.45 |
| 1 pound of bananas | $0.78 | $1.08 |
| 1 pound of chicken fillets | $7.34 | $7.08 |
| Average utilities per month | $229.80 | $242.12 |
| 1 pair of jeans | $60.71 | $65.89 |
Does the Cost of Living in Tacoma Fit Your Budget?
It’s always great to consider the standard of living you can expect when thinking about relocating to a new city. The Tacoma cost of living is a little more expensive than the national average. However, it’s cheaper than the cost of living in Seattle and other cities on the West Coast. You can get a lot for your money, including great public transport services and top schools.
Planning on moving to Tacoma? Count on our top-rated Tacoma movers to handle the job! Call All Ready Moving today at (360) 507-2447 or complete the Request a Quote form above for a free moving estimate!
