Cost of Living in Bremerton, WA
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Bremerton, WA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Bremerton, WA?
With a price level of 105.6 (U.S. average = 100), Bremerton, WA is more expensive than average. In detail, housing costs run 30% above average; everyday goods run 5% above average; utilities are 8% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Bremerton, WA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.6 | +5.6% |
| Housing | 129.6 | +29.6% |
| Goods | 105.0 | +5.0% |
| Utilities | 92.0 | −8.0% |
| Other services | 99.5 | −0.5% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Bremerton, WA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,400 | $56,000/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,548 | $61,920/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,031 | $81,240/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,676 | $107,040/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,941 | $117,640/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Bremerton, WA
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Bremerton, WA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $42,200 | $36,088 |
| $60,000 | $63,400 | $53,122 |
| $80,000 | $84,500 | $68,276 |
| $100,000 | $105,600 | $83,120 |
| $150,000 | $158,400 | $119,532 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Washington 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Bremerton, WA's median wage of $63,200 takes home about $4,413 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,548, which is 35% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,865 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Bremerton, WA
- Federal income tax$5,404
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,918
- Medicare (1.45%)$916
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$52,961
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Bremerton, WA
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $105,250 | $82,873 | $78,473 |
| Retail Salesperson | $38,470 | $33,091 | $31,334 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $37,080 | $31,974 | $30,276 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Washington cities
Half of Washington’s 3,550,970 workers earn less than $62,990 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $47,020–$101,710 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Seattle, WA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Wenatchee, WA is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $72,610 | 111.1 | $2,022 | 40% | $2,971 | $53,909 |
| Portland, OR | $60,690 | 105.4 | $1,677 | 40% | $2,568 | $48,325 |
| Spokane, WA | $54,660 | 100.3 | $1,168 | 30% | $2,674 | $45,940 |
| Olympia, WA | $61,960 | 103.7 | $1,682 | 39% | $2,648 | $50,125 |
| Kennewick, WA | $57,290 | 100.1 | $1,268 | 32% | $2,750 | $48,174 |
| Yakima, WA | $47,810 | 95.5 | $1,047 | 31% | $2,336 | $42,488 |
| Bremerton, WA | $63,200 | 105.6 | $1,548 | 35% | $2,865 | $50,149 |
| Bellingham, WA | $57,820 | 103.3 | $1,493 | 37% | $2,560 | $47,069 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | $59,590 | 102.4 | $1,311 | 31% | $2,861 | $48,867 |
| Wenatchee, WA | $49,290 | 103.9 | $1,143 | 33% | $2,339 | $40,234 |
| Longview, WA | $57,420 | 97.5 | $1,199 | 30% | $2,827 | $49,533 |
| Lewiston, ID | $48,300 | 91.2 | $931 | 27% | $2,485 | $44,964 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $53,100 | 98.5 | $1,181 | 32% | $2,556 | $45,520 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Bremerton, WA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton, WA | 105.6 | $1,548 | $63,200 | 93,740 |
| Oshkosh, WI | 92.9 | $889 | $54,060 | 93,750 |
| Iowa City, IA | 91.5 | $932 | $50,060 | 93,760 |
| Billings, MT | 93.5 | $1,102 | $49,060 | 93,800 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 98.4 | $1,846 | $56,360 | 94,110 |
| Macon, GA | 88.5 | $1,145 | $45,160 | 95,030 |
| Fort Smith, AR | 85.9 | $714 | $39,560 | 95,560 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bremerton, WA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA metro area are 105.6% of the U.S. average, with housing at 129.6%. It is the #26 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Bremerton, WA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $63,364 in Bremerton, WA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $63,200.
Can you afford Bremerton, WA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $63,200 median wage takes home about $4,413 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,548 would take 35% of that.
How much is rent in Bremerton, WA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Bremerton, WA are $1,400 for a studio, $1,548 for one bedroom, $2,031 for two bedrooms and $2,676 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Bremerton, WA
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $105,250
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $37,080
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $38,470