Moses Lake, WA vs Richland, WA

Moses Lake is moderately more affordable than Richland, with a 12% lower cost of living index. Moses Lake scores 97 compared to 110 for Richland, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Richland can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Moses Lake is $1,203/month compared to $1,397/month in Richland — a 14% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Moses Lake is more affordable at $278,100 median vs $401,800.

Median household income in Moses Lake is $71,854 compared to $92,550 in Richland (-22.4%). While Richland is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Moses Lake spend roughly 20.1% of their income on rent, more than the 18.1% in Richland.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.9°F vs 53.3°F). Moses Lake receives more rainfall at 7.8" per year compared to 7.6" in Richland.