Chehalis, WA vs Mountlake Terrace, WA

The cost of living difference between Chehalis, WA and Mountlake Terrace, WA is dramatic. Chehalis is 35.1% cheaper than Mountlake Terrace, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Chehalis has a cost index of 97 while Mountlake Terrace sits at 149, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Chehalis is $1,055/month compared to $1,966/month in Mountlake Terrace — a 46% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Chehalis is more affordable at $330,800 median vs $606,100.

Median household income in Chehalis is $68,021 compared to $101,404 in Mountlake Terrace (-32.9%). The higher salaries in Mountlake Terrace partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Chehalis spend roughly 18.6% of their income on rent, less than the 23.3% in Mountlake Terrace.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.5°F vs 53.2°F). Chehalis receives more rainfall at 50.6" per year compared to 37.8" in Mountlake Terrace.