Cost of Living in Kennewick, WA
Kennewick-Richland, WA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Kennewick, WA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Kennewick, WA?
With a price level of 100.1 (U.S. average = 100), Kennewick, WA is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs are 5% below average; everyday goods run 5% above average; utilities are 6% 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 Kennewick, WA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.1 | +0.1% |
| Housing | 94.8 | −5.2% |
| Goods | 105.0 | +5.0% |
| Utilities | 93.6 | −6.4% |
| Other services | 99.5 | −0.5% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Kennewick, WA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,122 | $44,880/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,268 | $50,720/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,538 | $61,520/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,071 | $82,840/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,385 | $95,400/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Kennewick, 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 Kennewick, WA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $40,000 | $34,320 |
| $60,000 | $60,000 | $50,390 |
| $80,000 | $80,100 | $65,180 |
| $100,000 | $100,100 | $79,250 |
| $150,000 | $150,100 | $113,859 |
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 Kennewick, WA's median wage of $57,290 takes home about $4,018 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,268, which is 32% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,750 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Kennewick, WA
- Federal income tax$4,695
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,552
- Medicare (1.45%)$831
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$48,213
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Kennewick, WA
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $106,410 | $83,689 | $83,623 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $47,810 | $40,595 | $40,563 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $45,510 | $38,747 | $38,717 |
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $42,340 | $36,200 | $36,172 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $38,940 | $33,468 | $33,442 |
| Retail Salesperson | $37,600 | $32,392 | $32,366 |
| Cashier | $36,610 | $31,596 | $31,571 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $36,410 | $31,435 | $31,411 |
*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.
Kennewick, WA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick, WA | 100.1 | $1,268 | $57,290 | 129,490 |
| Waco, TX | 92.5 | $966 | $46,020 | 129,860 |
| Elkhart, IN | 90.3 | $992 | $48,070 | 127,730 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 92.0 | $1,065 | $45,620 | 131,430 |
| South Bend, IN | 92.9 | $1,073 | $46,540 | 131,670 |
| Norwich, CT | 100.4 | $1,496 | $57,370 | 126,450 |
| Crestview, FL | 97.0 | $1,492 | $47,510 | 125,050 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Kennewick, WA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Kennewick-Richland, WA metro area are 100.1% of the U.S. average, with housing at 94.8%. It is the #88 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Kennewick, WA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $60,047 in Kennewick, WA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $57,290.
Can you afford Kennewick, WA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $57,290 median wage takes home about $4,018 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,268 would take 32% of that.
How much is rent in Kennewick, WA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Kennewick, WA are $1,122 for a studio, $1,268 for one bedroom, $1,538 for two bedrooms and $2,071 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Kennewick, WA
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $106,410
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $47,810
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,410
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $37,600
- Cashier — $36,610
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Stocker and Order Filler — $38,940