Burien, WA vs Moses Lake, WA

The cost of living difference between Burien, WA and Moses Lake, WA is dramatic. Moses Lake is 47% cheaper than Burien, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Burien has a cost index of 142 while Moses Lake sits at 97, 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 $1,203/month in Moses Lake — a 45% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Moses Lake is more affordable at $278,100 median vs $609,300.

Median household income in Burien is $90,597 compared to $71,854 in Moses Lake (+26.1%). The higher salaries in Burien partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Burien spend roughly 23.1% of their income on rent, more than the 20.1% in Moses Lake.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (53.7°F vs 50.9°F). Burien receives more rainfall at 39.3" per year compared to 7.8" in Moses Lake.