Auburn, WA vs Mount Vernon, WA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Mount Vernon is 20.8% cheaper than Auburn. With a cost index of 110 vs 133, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Mount Vernon to Auburn should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Auburn is $1,713/month compared to $1,255/month in Mount Vernon — a 37% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Mount Vernon is more affordable at $429,300 median vs $510,400.

Median household income in Auburn is $95,367 compared to $73,277 in Mount Vernon (+30.1%). While Auburn is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Auburn spend roughly 21.6% of their income on rent, more than the 20.6% in Mount Vernon.

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