Cost of Living in Spokane, WA
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Spokane, WA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Spokane, WA?
With a price level of 100.3 (U.S. average = 100), Spokane, WA is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs are 3% below average; everyday goods run 5% above average; utilities are 9% 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 utilities.
Prices in Spokane, WA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.3 | +0.3% |
| Housing | 97.1 | −2.9% |
| Goods | 105.0 | +5.0% |
| Utilities | 91.2 | −8.8% |
| Other services | 99.5 | −0.5% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Spokane, WA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,085 | $43,400/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,168 | $46,720/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,499 | $59,960/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,047 | $81,880/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,457 | $98,280/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Spokane, 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 Spokane, WA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $40,100 | $34,400 |
| $60,000 | $60,200 | $50,551 |
| $80,000 | $80,300 | $65,321 |
| $100,000 | $100,300 | $79,391 |
| $150,000 | $150,500 | $114,133 |
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 Spokane, WA's median wage of $54,660 takes home about $3,842 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,168, which is 30% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,674 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Spokane, WA
- Federal income tax$4,379
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,389
- Medicare (1.45%)$793
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$46,099
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Spokane, WA
*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.
Spokane, WA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, WA | 100.3 | $1,168 | $54,660 | 255,820 |
| Scranton, PA | 93.6 | $1,028 | $46,330 | 255,620 |
| Lancaster, PA | 98.3 | $1,220 | $48,210 | 252,230 |
| Lakeland, FL | 97.1 | $1,230 | $46,140 | 265,280 |
| Palm Bay, FL | 100.0 | $1,478 | $49,030 | 245,170 |
| Huntsville, AL | 93.1 | $1,136 | $51,740 | 266,650 |
| Chattanooga, TN | 91.5 | $1,263 | $46,700 | 268,750 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Spokane, WA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area are 100.3% of the U.S. average, with housing at 97.1%. It is the #81 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Spokane, WA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $60,208 in Spokane, WA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $54,660.
Can you afford Spokane, WA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $54,660 median wage takes home about $3,842 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,168 would take 30% of that.
How much is rent in Spokane, WA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Spokane, WA are $1,085 for a studio, $1,168 for one bedroom, $1,499 for two bedrooms and $2,047 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Spokane, WA
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $119,420
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $111,750
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $47,410
- Nursing Assistant — $47,240
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Waiter and Waitress — $48,560
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,230
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,780
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $54,250
- Retail Salesperson — $36,880
- Cashier — $36,290
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $72,300
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $53,050
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $49,550
- Office Clerks, General — $47,600
- Customer Service Representative — $46,790
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $41,800
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $52,280
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $62,980
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,510
- Stocker and Order Filler — $40,510