Route comparison
Seattle, WA vs Spokane, WA: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Seattle, WA and Spokane, WA. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Seattle, WA
WA
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 113.7
- Housing RPP
- 154.8
- Goods RPP
- 116.2
- 2-BR median rent
- $2,645/mo
Washington has no state income tax. Sales tax 6.5%+local up to 10.5%.
Spokane, WA
WA
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 102.7
- Housing RPP
- 92.1
- Goods RPP
- 109.2
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,304/mo
Washington has no state income tax.
Equivalent salary
Spokane, WA is cheaper than Seattle, WA by about 9.7% (RPP 113.7 to 102.7).
$60,000 in Seattle, WA
-> $54,195
in Spokane, WA
$100,000 in Seattle, WA
-> $90,325
in Spokane, WA
$150,000 in Seattle, WA
-> $135,488
in Spokane, WA
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
Migration signal: Seattle, WA vs Spokane, WA
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Seattle, WA
- Net people
- −28,174
- Net rank
- #58 of 65
- Top origin share
- 3%
- Top destination share
- 3%
Largest source: Los Angeles County, CA. Largest destination: Thurston County, WA.
Spokane, WA
- Net people
- +2,477
- Net rank
- #24 of 65
- Top origin share
- 8%
- Top destination share
- 8%
Largest source: Kootenai County, ID. Largest destination: Kootenai County, ID.
Rent delta: Spokane, WA is $1,341/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Seattle, WA. Housing RPP moves from 154.8 to 92.1.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Spokane, WA cheaper or more expensive than Seattle, WA?
- Spokane, WA (RPP 102.7) is cheaper than Seattle, WA (RPP 113.7) by about 9.7%.
- What salary do I need in Spokane, WA if I earn $100,000 in Seattle, WA?
- You would need approximately $90,325 in Spokane, WA to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Seattle, WA. Formula: $100,000 x (102.7 / 113.7).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Seattle, WA or Spokane, WA?
- For 2021-2022, Seattle, WA had a net loss of 28,174 people, while Spokane, WA had a net gain of 2,477 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.