Auburn, WA vs Tacoma, WA

Tacoma is moderately more affordable than Auburn, with a 6.5% lower cost of living index. Auburn scores 133 compared to 125 for Tacoma, 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 $1,597/month in Tacoma — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Tacoma is more affordable at $454,600 median vs $510,400.

Median household income in Auburn is $95,367 compared to $83,857 in Tacoma (+13.7%). 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, less than the 22.9% in Tacoma.

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