Cost of Living in Tacoma, WA
| Cost of Living in Tacoma, WA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 4% higher | 34% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 1% higher | 6% lower |
| Food | 1% higher | 13% higher |
| Healthcare | 4% higher | 25% higher |
| Transportation | 2% lower | 24% higher |
| Goods & Services | 3% higher | 17% higher |
The cost of living in Tacoma, WA is 3% higher than the state average and 20% higher than the national average. Tacoma, WA housing is 34% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 6% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 13% pricier in Tacoma, WA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 17% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 25% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 17% pricier in Tacoma, WA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Tacoma is $1,744, while home prices circle around $622,476.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Tacoma, energy bills cost around $169.30 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $5.14 in Tacoma, a dozen eggs go for around $4.56 and a pound of potatoes circles around $3.87.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Tacoma, an optometry check-up costs around $191.81, while a dentist appointment is priced $127.12 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $4.20 in Tacoma, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $78.74.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $48.37 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $46.13.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Tacoma, you should budget around $11.92 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $23.76, while dry cleaning costs about $24.24.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Tacoma, the median household income is $83,857.