Lake Stevens, WA vs Monroe, WA

Monroe is moderately more affordable than Lake Stevens, with a 6% lower cost of living index. Lake Stevens scores 155 compared to 146 for Monroe, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Lake Stevens can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Lake Stevens is $2,189/month compared to $1,902/month in Monroe — a 15% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Monroe has cheaper rent, Lake Stevens actually has lower median home values ($593,900 vs $594,300).

Median household income in Lake Stevens is $118,290 compared to $107,556 in Monroe (+10%). While Lake Stevens is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Lake Stevens spend roughly 22.2% of their income on rent, more than the 21.2% in Monroe.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.4°F vs 51.4°F). Monroe receives more rainfall at 33.4" per year compared to 33.4" in Lake Stevens.