Olympia, WA vs Yakima, WA

The cost of living difference between Olympia, WA and Yakima, WA is dramatic. Yakima is 35% cheaper than Olympia, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Olympia has a cost index of 121 while Yakima sits at 89, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Olympia is $1,509/month compared to $1,075/month in Yakima — a 40% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Yakima is more affordable at $273,400 median vs $457,900.

Median household income in Olympia is $76,930 compared to $59,228 in Yakima (+29.9%). The higher salaries in Olympia partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Olympia spend roughly 23.5% of their income on rent, more than the 21.8% in Yakima.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.5°F vs 50.8°F). Olympia receives more rainfall at 50.6" per year compared to 8" in Yakima.