Arlington, WA vs Olympia, WA

Olympia is moderately more affordable than Arlington, with a 10.6% lower cost of living index. Arlington scores 133 compared to 121 for Olympia, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Arlington 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 $1,509/month in Olympia — a 17% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Olympia is more affordable at $457,900 median vs $492,600.

Median household income in Arlington is $84,919 compared to $76,930 in Olympia (+10.4%). The higher salaries in Arlington 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 23.5% in Olympia.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.4°F vs 50.5°F). Olympia receives more rainfall at 50.6" per year compared to 33.4" in Arlington.