Anacortes, WA vs Burien, WA

Anacortes, WA and Burien, WA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.3% difference in their overall index. Anacortes scores 139 while Burien scores 142 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Anacortes is $1,609/month compared to $1,742/month in Burien — a 8% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Anacortes has cheaper rent, Burien actually has lower median home values ($609,300 vs $647,700).

Median household income in Anacortes is $89,788 compared to $90,597 in Burien (-0.9%). Burien does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Anacortes spend roughly 21.5% of their income on rent, less than the 23.1% in Burien.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.1°F vs 53.7°F). Burien receives more rainfall at 39.3" per year compared to 19.9" in Anacortes.