Burien, WA vs Oak Harbor, WA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Oak Harbor is 17.1% cheaper than Burien. With a cost index of 121 vs 142, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Oak Harbor to Burien should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Burien is $1,742/month compared to $1,629/month in Oak Harbor — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Oak Harbor is more affordable at $421,700 median vs $609,300.

Median household income in Burien is $90,597 compared to $72,041 in Oak Harbor (+25.8%). 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 27.1% in Oak Harbor.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (53.7°F vs 52.1°F). Burien receives more rainfall at 39.3" per year compared to 19.9" in Oak Harbor.