Burien, WA vs Federal Way, WA

Federal Way is moderately more affordable than Burien, with a 6.8% lower cost of living index. Burien scores 142 compared to 133 for Federal Way, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Burien can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Burien is $1,742/month compared to $1,738/month in Federal Way — a 0% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Federal Way is more affordable at $499,600 median vs $609,300.

Median household income in Burien is $90,597 compared to $82,144 in Federal Way (+10.3%). While Burien 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, less than the 25.4% in Federal Way.

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