Spokane Valley, WA vs Yakima, WA

Yakima is moderately more affordable than Spokane Valley, with a 13.5% lower cost of living index. Spokane Valley scores 101 compared to 89 for Yakima, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Spokane Valley can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Spokane Valley is $1,247/month compared to $1,075/month in Yakima — a 16% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Yakima is more affordable at $273,400 median vs $344,300.

Median household income in Spokane Valley is $70,722 compared to $59,228 in Yakima (+19.4%). While Spokane Valley is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Spokane Valley spend roughly 21.2% of their income on rent, less than the 21.8% in Yakima.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (49.8°F vs 50.8°F). Spokane Valley receives more rainfall at 17.4" per year compared to 8" in Yakima.