Chain Lake, WA vs Newcastle, WA
There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Chain Lake is 20.9% cheaper than Newcastle. With a cost index of 160 vs 202, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Chain Lake to Newcastle should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.
On the housing front, median rent in Chain Lake is $1,728/month compared to $2,314/month in Newcastle — a 25% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Chain Lake is more affordable at $830,200 median vs $1,128,200.
Median household income in Chain Lake is $148,932 compared to $162,646 in Newcastle (-8.4%). Newcastle does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Chain Lake spend roughly 13.9% of their income on rent, less than the 17.1% in Newcastle.
Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.4°F vs 53.6°F). Newcastle receives more rainfall at 34.7" per year compared to 33.4" in Chain Lake.
Income & Cost
Housing
Salary Equivalency Calculator
What does your salary in one city buy you in the other?
Everyday Prices
BLS Average Prices by metro area
Climate
NOAA 30-year normals (1991-2020)