Cost of Living

Regional Cost of Living

The cost of living composite consists of grocery, housing, utilities, transportation, and miscellaneous goods and services. The national average is normalized at 100. Cost of living for Kitsap County in Q3 2021 is 121.19. The cost of living in Kitsap is lower than King County (149.9), and higher than other urban areas. Both Kitsap and King Counties experienced dramatically higher housing prices in 2021; however, Kitsap indicated a much lower cost in all other categories amalgamated in the composite index.

Urban Area Composite Grocery Housing Utilities Transportation Healthcare Misc. Good and Services
Bellingham 118.6 109.3 129.8 86.1 128.9 122.0 113.5
Kitsap* 121.1 106.3 138.2 86.5 123.6 117.3 121.1
Mount Vernon-Skagit 117.3 124.5 128.9 86 115.8 124.1 107.8
Olympia 113.3 116 118.7 93.9 128.5 124.1 107.8
Seattle 149.4 127.9 201.4 107 135.1 121.2 135.3

Source:  Home - C2ER Cost of Living Index (coli.org) Q3 2021 Report

Living Wage

The living wage is determined by calculating the minimum income at which a maximum of 33.3% of the total income would be allocated for housing. Per the UW Runstad Department of Real Estate Fall 2021 Report the minimum living wage to rent a one-bedroom apartment in Kitsap County was $27 compared to $32 in King County. Meanwhile, the median home mortgage in Kitsap County required an hourly wage of $34 in contrast to King County at $57.

 

Living Wage (Kitsap) 

Housing Type Rate Required household hourly wage Required household weekly wage 
Rent 1 bedroom $1,544 $27 $1069
Rent 2 bedroom $1,731 $30 $1198
Median home mortgage $1,995 $34 $1,354

Source: UW Runstad Department of Real Estate Fall 2021 Report

Kitsap County, WA Housing Market: House Prices & Trends | Redfin