Friday Harbor, WA vs Mead, WA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Mead is 23.2% cheaper than Friday Harbor. With a cost index of 103 vs 127, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Mead to Friday Harbor should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Friday Harbor is $1,571/month compared to $1,216/month in Mead — a 29% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Mead is more affordable at $379,600 median vs $515,000.

Median household income in Friday Harbor is $69,954 compared to $76,010 in Mead (-8%). Mead offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Friday Harbor spend roughly 26.9% of their income on rent, more than the 19.2% in Mead.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.9°F vs 49.8°F). Friday Harbor receives more rainfall at 18.5" per year compared to 17.4" in Mead.