Cost of Living in Yakima, WA
Yakima, WA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
95.5
U.S. average = 100 · #157 of 387
Median wage
$47,810
all jobs · $3,383/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$1,047
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Yakima, WA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
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Prices in Yakima, WA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.5 | −4.5% |
| Housing | 72.6 | −27.4% |
| Goods | 105.0 | +5.0% |
| Utilities | 91.9 | −8.1% |
| Other services | 99.5 | −0.5% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Yakima, WA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,040 | $41,600/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,047 | $41,880/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,374 | $54,960/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,911 | $76,440/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,093 | $83,720/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Yakima, WA
Your take-home pay
$40,595
per year · effective tax rate 15.1%
$3,383Monthly
$1,691Twice a month
$1,561Every 2 weeks
$19.52Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,557
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,964
- Medicare (1.45%)$693
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$40,595
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Yakima, WA
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Yakima, WA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Yakima, WA metro area are 95.5% of the U.S. average, with housing at 72.6%. It is the #157 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Yakima, WA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $57,327 in Yakima, WA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $47,810.
How much is rent in Yakima, WA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Yakima, WA are $1,040 for a studio, $1,047 for one bedroom, $1,374 for two bedrooms and $1,911 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Yakima, WA
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $119,470
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $82,380
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $76,520
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $67,650
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $58,590
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $100,560
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $98,760
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $98,330
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $51,490
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $47,380
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $102,950
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $49,310
- Nursing Assistant — $47,080
- Dental Assistant — $46,670
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $44,490
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $51,670
- Waiter and Waitress — $49,060
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,390
- Food Preparation Worker — $41,750
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,830
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $42,340
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $39,210
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $37,370
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $76,140
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $59,100
- Retail Salesperson — $36,640
- Cashier — $36,010
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $73,050
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $53,560
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $52,540
- Customer Service Representative — $46,570
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $46,160
- Office Clerks, General — $45,600
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $40,990
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations
- Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse — $39,070
- Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products — $34,750
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- Carpenter — $63,300
- Construction Laborer — $48,810
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $62,670
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $49,450
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $74,930
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $45,400
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $43,690
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $57,210
- Bus Drivers, School — $52,480
- Light Truck Driver — $45,490
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $44,330
- Stocker and Order Filler — $40,460
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $39,710
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $36,080