Kennewick, WA vs Yakima, WA

Yakima is moderately more affordable than Kennewick, with a 11.1% lower cost of living index. Kennewick scores 99 compared to 89 for Yakima, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Kennewick can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Kennewick is $1,199/month compared to $1,075/month in Yakima — a 12% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Yakima is more affordable at $273,400 median vs $343,600.

Median household income in Kennewick is $72,867 compared to $59,228 in Yakima (+23%). While Kennewick is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Kennewick spend roughly 19.7% of their income on rent, less than the 21.8% in Yakima.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (53.3°F vs 50.8°F). Yakima receives more rainfall at 8" per year compared to 7.6" in Kennewick.