Federal Way, WA vs Mount Vernon, WA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Mount Vernon is 20.7% cheaper than Federal Way. With a cost index of 110 vs 133, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Mount Vernon to Federal Way should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Federal Way is $1,738/month compared to $1,255/month in Mount Vernon — a 39% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Mount Vernon is more affordable at $429,300 median vs $499,600.

Median household income in Federal Way is $82,144 compared to $73,277 in Mount Vernon (+12.1%). The higher salaries in Federal Way partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Federal Way spend roughly 25.4% of their income on rent, more than the 20.6% in Mount Vernon.

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