Auburn, WA vs Spanaway, WA

Spanaway is moderately more affordable than Auburn, with a 5.4% lower cost of living index. Auburn scores 133 compared to 126 for Spanaway, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Auburn 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 $1,782/month in Spanaway — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Auburn has cheaper rent, Spanaway actually has lower median home values ($401,000 vs $510,400).

Median household income in Auburn is $95,367 compared to $94,028 in Spanaway (+1.4%). Auburn 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 22.7% in Spanaway.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (53.7°F vs 51.9°F). Spanaway receives more rainfall at 42" per year compared to 39.3" in Auburn.