Chehalis, WA vs Friday Harbor, WA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Chehalis is 24.1% cheaper than Friday Harbor. With a cost index of 97 vs 127, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Chehalis to Friday Harbor should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Chehalis is $1,055/month compared to $1,571/month in Friday Harbor — a 33% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Chehalis is more affordable at $330,800 median vs $515,000.

Median household income in Chehalis is $68,021 compared to $69,954 in Friday Harbor (-2.8%). Friday Harbor 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 Chehalis spend roughly 18.6% of their income on rent, less than the 26.9% in Friday Harbor.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.5°F vs 50.9°F). Chehalis receives more rainfall at 50.6" per year compared to 18.5" in Friday Harbor.