Lakewood, WA vs SeaTac, WA

Lakewood is moderately more affordable than SeaTac, with a 8.2% lower cost of living index. Lakewood scores 118 compared to 129 for SeaTac, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of SeaTac can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Lakewood is $1,460/month compared to $1,637/month in SeaTac — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lakewood is more affordable at $420,500 median vs $483,200.

Median household income in Lakewood is $70,524 compared to $76,517 in SeaTac (-7.8%). The higher salaries in SeaTac partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Lakewood spend roughly 24.8% 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). Lakewood receives more rainfall at 42" per year compared to 39.3" in SeaTac.