How Much It Costs To Live Comfortably in 50 West Coast Cities
For millions of Americans, the West Coast simply is the best coast. From the cultural history of sunny California to surfing in Hawaii, the rich musical traditions of Oregon (especially Portland), skiing in Colorado to plentiful hiking opportunities in Washington State, there’s something for almost everyone.
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But picking a place to live requires more than simply deciding whether you want to wax up your surfboard, pay homage to the greats of grunge or take in the glitz of Tinseltown. You’ll need to determine the amount of money that will allow you to live comfortably while paying your rent or meeting other basic needs.
Fortunately, GOBankingRates looked at certain key costs in popular cities across West Coast states to give you a basic rundown of the costs you’ll need to plan for every month.
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Average Monthly Mortgage: $1,639
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $462
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $486
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $356
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $398
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Yakima, Washington
Average Monthly Mortgage: $1,960
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $470
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $424
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $313
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $591
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Roseburg, Oregon
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,003
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $470
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $518
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $312
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $421
Longview, Washington
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,147
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $473
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $496
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $255
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $522
Lebanon, Oregon
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,206
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $472
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $466
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $309
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $453
The Dalles, Oregon
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,189
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $473
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $499
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $321
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $407
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Walla Walla, Washington
Average Monthly Mortgage: $473
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $473
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $425
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $321
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $419
Spokane, Washington
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,197
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $470
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $412
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $296
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $737
Pasco, Washington
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,352
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $473
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $417
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $318
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $487
Grants Pass, Oregon
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,315
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $477
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $495
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $332
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $415
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Pullman, Washington
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,437
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $479
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $438
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $320
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $361
North Pole, Alaska
Average Monthly Mortgage: $1,782
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $642
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $624
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $503
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $536
Spokane Valley, Washington
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,282
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $474
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $412
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $306
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $738
Central Point, Oregon
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,315
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $476
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $513
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $342
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $458
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Fresno, California
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,216
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $471
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $454
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $426
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $639
Bakersfield, California
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,232
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $470
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $447
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $423
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $644
Fairbanks, Alaska
Average Monthly Mortgage: $1,707
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $632
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $624
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $508
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $790
Visalia, California
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,187
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $472
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $562
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $412
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $546
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Woodburn, Oregon
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,392
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $476
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $452
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $310
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $596
Albany, Oregon
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,409
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $476
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $466
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $312
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $560
Springfield, Oregon
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,317
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $474
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $468
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $302
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $715
Medford, Oregon
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,284
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $478
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $513
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $337
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $676
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Salem, Oregon
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,450
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $477
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $452
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $301
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $600
Richland, Washington
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,635
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $483
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $422
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $300
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $462
Keizer, Oregon
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,530
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $478
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $452
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $298
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $602
Parkland, Washington
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,570
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $476
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $430
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $249
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $704
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Wenatchee, Washington
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,702
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $479
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $458
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $255
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $465
Bremerton, Washington
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,643
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $478
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $432
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $273
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $584
Victorville, California
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,462
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $465
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $423
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $439
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $702
Dallas, Oregon
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,615
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $478
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $453
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $301
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $600
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Wasilla, Alaska
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,163
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $641
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $620
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $445
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $644
Stockton, California
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,543
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $494
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $491
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $413
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $646
McMinnville, Oregon
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,720
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $480
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $439
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $284
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $694
Modesto, California
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,538
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $494
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $488
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $425
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $660
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Tumwater, Washington
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,832
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $482
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $425
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $281
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $530
Lacey, Washington
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,803
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $478
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $425
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $282
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $582
Tacoma, Washington
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,726
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $481
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $430
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $257
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $750
Eugene, Oregona
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,696
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $480
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $468
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $308
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $716
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Anchorage, Alaska
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,272
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $581
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $611
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $410
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $801
Spanaway, Washington
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,773
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $479
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $430
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $265
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $753
Gresham, Oregon
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,676
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $480
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $442
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $314
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $813
Lakewood, Washington
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,830
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $477
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $430
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $263
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $689
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Lancaster, California
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,684
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $468
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $433
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $439
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $691
San Bernardino, California
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,787
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $467
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $423
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $414
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $645
Palmer, Alaska
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,283
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $639
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $620
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $513
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $705
Olympia, Washington
Average Monthly Mortgage: $3,012
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $482
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $425
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $282
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $528
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Redmond, Oregon
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,920
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $478
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $477
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $331
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $533
Vancouver, Washington
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,887
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $481
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $444
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $282
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $755
Sacramento, California
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,771
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $498
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $507
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $373
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $746
Milwaukie, Oregona
Average Monthly Mortgage: $2,923
Average Monthly Grocery Costs: $482
Average Monthly Healthcare Costs: $445
Average Monthly Utilities Costs: $315
Average Monthly Transportation Costs: $736
Jacob Wade contributed to the reporting for this article.
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates found the amount needed to live comfortably in 20 West Coast cities. First GOBankingRates analyzed the 50 most populated cities from the West Coast states; AK, CA, WA, OR, and HI. For the city to qualify it had to have all the data points or it would be removed from the list. First GOBankingRates found the total population of each city as sourced from the US Census American Community Survey. For each city on the list a number of factors were found including; total population/households/median household income all sourced from the US Census American Community Survey, the average home value from January 2024 and average rent cost as sourced from the Zillow Home Value Index and the Zillow Observed Rental Index, cost of living indexes as sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces, the 30 year national fixed rate mortgage as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, and the livability index as sourced from AreaVibes. The final results were sorted from cheapest to most expensive in terms of total cost of living. All data was collected on and is up to date as of April 9th, 2024.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Much It Costs To Live Comfortably in 50 West Coast Cities
