Auburn, WA vs Renton, WA

Auburn is moderately more affordable than Renton, with a 10.9% lower cost of living index. Auburn scores 133 compared to 150 for Renton, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Renton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Auburn is $1,713/month compared to $1,923/month in Renton — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Auburn is more affordable at $510,400 median vs $631,400.

Median household income in Auburn is $95,367 compared to $96,626 in Renton (-1.3%). Renton 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 Auburn spend roughly 21.6% of their income on rent, less than the 23.9% in Renton.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (53.7°F vs 53.6°F). Auburn receives more rainfall at 39.3" per year compared to 34.7" in Renton.