Burien, WA vs Mountlake Terrace, WA

Burien, WA and Mountlake Terrace, WA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.4% difference in their overall index. Burien scores 142 while Mountlake Terrace scores 149 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Burien is $1,742/month compared to $1,966/month in Mountlake Terrace — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Burien has cheaper rent, Mountlake Terrace actually has lower median home values ($606,100 vs $609,300).

Median household income in Burien is $90,597 compared to $101,404 in Mountlake Terrace (-10.7%). While Mountlake Terrace 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 23.3% in Mountlake Terrace.

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 Mountlake Terrace.