Chain Lake, WA vs Fort Lewis, WA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Fort Lewis is 20.8% cheaper than Chain Lake. With a cost index of 132 vs 160, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Fort Lewis to Chain Lake should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

Renters will find that Chain Lake has a median rent of $1,728/month while Fort Lewis comes in at $2,240/month, a 23% difference.

Median household income in Chain Lake is $148,932 compared to $54,902 in Fort Lewis (+171.3%). While Chain 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 Chain Lake spend roughly 13.9% of their income on rent, less than the 49% in Fort Lewis. The Chain Lake ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.4°F vs 51.9°F). Fort Lewis receives more rainfall at 42" per year compared to 33.4" in Chain Lake.