Lake Stevens, WA vs Port Orchard, WA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Port Orchard is 17.7% cheaper than Lake Stevens. With a cost index of 131 vs 155, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Port Orchard to Lake Stevens should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Lake Stevens is $2,189/month compared to $1,760/month in Port Orchard — a 24% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Port Orchard is more affordable at $492,000 median vs $593,900.

Median household income in Lake Stevens is $118,290 compared to $81,472 in Port Orchard (+45.2%). 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, less than the 25.9% in Port Orchard.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.4°F vs 53.8°F). Port Orchard receives more rainfall at 36.5" per year compared to 33.4" in Lake Stevens.