Mountlake Terrace, WA vs Olympia, WA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Olympia is 23.4% cheaper than Mountlake Terrace. With a cost index of 121 vs 149, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Olympia to Mountlake Terrace should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Mountlake Terrace is $1,966/month compared to $1,509/month in Olympia — a 30% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Olympia is more affordable at $457,900 median vs $606,100.

Median household income in Mountlake Terrace is $101,404 compared to $76,930 in Olympia (+31.8%). While Mountlake Terrace is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Mountlake Terrace spend roughly 23.3% of their income on rent, less than the 23.5% in Olympia.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (53.2°F vs 50.5°F). Olympia receives more rainfall at 50.6" per year compared to 37.8" in Mountlake Terrace.