Arlington, WA vs Puyallup, WA

Arlington, WA and Puyallup, WA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.6% difference in their overall index. Arlington scores 133 while Puyallup scores 134 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 Arlington is $1,764/month compared to $1,750/month in Puyallup — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Puyallup has cheaper rent, Arlington actually has lower median home values ($492,600 vs $507,000).

Median household income in Arlington is $84,919 compared to $95,639 in Puyallup (-11.2%). While Puyallup is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Arlington spend roughly 24.9% of their income on rent, more than the 22% in Puyallup.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.4°F vs 51.9°F). Puyallup receives more rainfall at 42" per year compared to 33.4" in Arlington.