Fife, WA vs SeaTac, WA

Fife, WA and SeaTac, WA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.5% difference in their overall index. Fife scores 135 while SeaTac scores 129 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Fife is $1,836/month compared to $1,637/month in SeaTac — a 12% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while SeaTac has cheaper rent, Fife actually has lower median home values ($480,600 vs $483,200).

Median household income in Fife is $90,515 compared to $76,517 in SeaTac (+18.3%). While Fife is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fife spend roughly 24.3% of their income on rent, less than the 25.7% in SeaTac.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.9°F vs 53.7°F). Fife receives more rainfall at 42" per year compared to 39.3" in SeaTac.