Oak Harbor, WA vs Olympia, WA

Oak Harbor, WA and Olympia, WA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.8% difference in their overall index. Oak Harbor scores 121 while Olympia scores 121 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Oak Harbor is $1,629/month compared to $1,509/month in Olympia — a 8% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Olympia has cheaper rent, Oak Harbor actually has lower median home values ($421,700 vs $457,900).

Median household income in Oak Harbor is $72,041 compared to $76,930 in Olympia (-6.4%). Olympia offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Oak Harbor spend roughly 27.1% of their income on rent, more than the 23.5% in Olympia.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.1°F vs 50.5°F). Olympia receives more rainfall at 50.6" per year compared to 19.9" in Oak Harbor.