Burien, WA vs Cottage Lake, WA

The cost of living difference between Burien, WA and Cottage Lake, WA is dramatic. Burien is 31.2% cheaper than Cottage Lake, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Burien has a cost index of 142 while Cottage Lake sits at 207, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Burien is $1,742/month compared to $2,374/month in Cottage Lake — a 27% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Burien is more affordable at $609,300 median vs $1,164,000.

Median household income in Burien is $90,597 compared to $197,331 in Cottage Lake (-54.1%). While Cottage Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Burien spend roughly 23.1% of their income on rent, more than the 14.4% in Cottage Lake.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (53.7°F vs 53.2°F). Burien receives more rainfall at 39.3" per year compared to 37.8" in Cottage Lake.