Arlington, WA vs Burien, WA

Arlington is moderately more affordable than Burien, with a 6.3% lower cost of living index. Arlington scores 133 compared to 142 for Burien, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Burien can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Arlington is $1,764/month compared to $1,742/month in Burien — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Burien has cheaper rent, Arlington actually has lower median home values ($492,600 vs $609,300).

Median household income in Arlington is $84,919 compared to $90,597 in Burien (-6.3%). The higher salaries in Burien partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Arlington spend roughly 24.9% of their income on rent, more than the 23.1% in Burien.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.4°F vs 53.7°F). Burien receives more rainfall at 39.3" per year compared to 33.4" in Arlington.