Cost of living in Olympia: rent, homes and salary
In 2024, the regional price parity (RPP) from BEA put the metro area of Olympia, WA at 103.7 (the US is 100), with housing alone at 116.7. That places the cost of living in Olympia 3.7% above the US average.
- Level of prices
- 103.7US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level for housing
- 116.7 for rents, US = 100.
Cost of living index for Olympia
One regional price parity figure compares the cost of the same basket of goods and services in a single place with the US average. That average is set at 100. BEA prices the whole Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area as one, and Olympia sits inside it. Housing (rents) lies furthest from the US average, at 116.7, or 16.7% above the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Olympia, WA metro | Washington | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.7 | 107.0 | +3.7% |
| Goods | 105.0 | 104.4 | +5.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 116.7 | 126.0 | +16.7% |
| Utilities | 91.7 | 92.9 | −8.3% |
| Other services | 99.5 | 103.9 | −0.5% |
These figures are the 2024 regional price parities for metro areas and states, published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. BEA price parity data
Olympia rent levels
Olympia's typical asking rent is $1,969 a month, +2.8% on a year, according to the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), which covers rent on homes listed now. The US figure is $1,932.
| Rent | Olympia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $1,969 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +2.8% |
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024, estimates for one year; Zillow Observed Rent Index.
Olympia home prices
In Olympia, a typical home was worth $526,205 as of September 2026, based on ZHVI, the Zillow Home Value Index, which tracks the value of a typical home at the middle of the market. That marks a change of −0.3% on a year, while the US figure is $366,157.
| Home prices | Olympia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $526,205 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | −0.3% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +88.4% | +77.4% |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 22.3 | 15.8 |
Days on market, a forecast, and a price chart going back to 2000: Olympia housing market.
The salary required to live in Olympia
Two questions set the salary in Olympia: where you live, and what you earn. It is the income that buys what your pay buys today.
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- Salary
The method and all cities, side by side: city cost of living comparison.
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Olympia cost of living compared with other cities
| City | Level of prices | Housing | The typical rent | Typical value of a home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia | 103.7 | 116.7 | $1,969 | $526,205 |
| Seattle | 111.1 | 151.3 | $2,227 | $822,572 |
| Spokane | 100.3 | 97.1 | $1,483 | $392,803 |
| Vancouver | 105.4 | 125.1 | $1,803 | $498,160 |
| Bellevue | 111.1 | 151.3 | $2,759 | $1,386,450 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| Chicago | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,311 | $334,108 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
BEA regional price parities for 2024 give these price levels, with US = 100. Rent from Zillow ZORI. Home value comes from Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
Every city, ranked: comparison of cost of living by city. State by state: cost of living by state.