Bremerton, WA vs Federal Way, WA

Bremerton is moderately more affordable than Federal Way, with a 11.6% lower cost of living index. Bremerton scores 118 compared to 133 for Federal Way, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Federal Way can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bremerton is $1,535/month compared to $1,738/month in Federal Way — a 12% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Bremerton is more affordable at $409,500 median vs $499,600.

Median household income in Bremerton is $74,399 compared to $82,144 in Federal Way (-9.4%). The higher salaries in Federal Way partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Bremerton spend roughly 24.8% of their income on rent, less than the 25.4% in Federal Way.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (53.8°F vs 53.7°F). Federal Way receives more rainfall at 39.3" per year compared to 36.5" in Bremerton.