Cost of Living in Olympia, WA
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Olympia, WA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Olympia, WA?
With a price level of 103.7 (U.S. average = 100), Olympia, WA is more expensive than average. In detail, housing costs run 17% 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 Olympia, WA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.7 | +3.7% |
| Housing | 116.7 | +16.7% |
| Goods | 105.0 | +5.0% |
| Utilities | 91.7 | −8.3% |
| Other services | 99.5 | −0.5% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Olympia, WA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,538 | $61,520/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,682 | $67,280/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,960 | $78,400/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,613 | $104,520/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,288 | $131,520/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Olympia, 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 Olympia, WA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $41,500 | $35,525 |
| $60,000 | $62,200 | $52,158 |
| $80,000 | $82,900 | $67,150 |
| $100,000 | $103,700 | $81,783 |
| $150,000 | $155,500 | $117,550 |
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 Olympia, WA's median wage of $61,960 takes home about $4,330 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,682, which is 39% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,648 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Olympia, WA
- Federal income tax$5,255
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,842
- Medicare (1.45%)$898
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$51,965
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Olympia, WA
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $122,210 | $94,797 | $91,441 |
| Management Analyst | $88,790 | $71,294 | $68,770 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $44,070 | $37,590 | $36,260 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $44,060 | $37,582 | $36,252 |
| Retail Salesperson | $37,350 | $32,191 | $31,051 |
| Cashier | $37,340 | $32,183 | $31,043 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $36,110 | $31,194 | $30,090 |
*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.
Olympia, WA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia, WA | 103.7 | $1,682 | $61,960 | 130,300 |
| Waco, TX | 92.5 | $966 | $46,020 | 129,860 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 92.0 | $1,065 | $45,620 | 131,430 |
| South Bend, IN | 92.9 | $1,073 | $46,540 | 131,670 |
| Elkhart, IN | 90.3 | $992 | $48,070 | 127,730 |
| College Station, TX | 91.0 | $1,082 | $44,470 | 134,040 |
| Norwich, CT | 100.4 | $1,496 | $57,370 | 126,450 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Olympia, WA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area are 103.7% of the U.S. average, with housing at 116.7%. It is the #38 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Olympia, WA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $62,202 in Olympia, WA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $61,960.
Can you afford Olympia, WA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $61,960 median wage takes home about $4,330 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,682 would take 39% of that.
How much is rent in Olympia, WA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Olympia, WA are $1,538 for a studio, $1,682 for one bedroom, $1,960 for two bedrooms and $2,613 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Olympia, WA
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $122,210
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Management Analyst — $88,790
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $44,060
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,110
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $37,350
- Cashier — $37,340
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Stocker and Order Filler — $44,070