Redmond, WA vs Tumwater, WA

The cost of living difference between Redmond, WA and Tumwater, WA is dramatic. Tumwater is 62.2% cheaper than Redmond, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Redmond has a cost index of 200 while Tumwater sits at 123, 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 Redmond is $2,343/month compared to $1,654/month in Tumwater — a 42% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Tumwater is more affordable at $438,000 median vs $1,091,700.

Median household income in Redmond is $162,099 compared to $93,635 in Tumwater (+73.1%). While Redmond is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Redmond spend roughly 17.3% of their income on rent, less than the 21.2% in Tumwater.

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