Overall
98.5
-1.5 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Walla Walla, WA
Cost-of-living indicators for Walla Walla, WA, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 98.5
- Overall RPP
- #102
- of 387 metros
- 86.6
- Rents RPP
- $102K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Walla Walla costs less than 26% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 98.5, 1.5% below the national average, with rents the biggest swing at 86.6.
- 98.5
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #102
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- bottom 74%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 86.6
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $101,503 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $98,519.
What the Numbers Mean for Walla Walla
Walla Walla ranks #102 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the upper half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 98.5, Walla Walla, WA is 1.5% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Walla Walla's most and least expensive categories — goods at 105.0 versus rents at 86.6 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $101,503 inside Walla Walla, while a household needs roughly $98,519 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 86.6 — 13.4% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Walla Walla's overall index has risen by 2.9 points, signaling tightening affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 105.0 and services at 94.3, meaning everyday spending in Walla Walla is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Walla Walla vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
99 Top 26% higher than 74% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Walla Walla cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
86.6 RPP
- Services
Services
94.3 RPP
- Overall
Overall
98.5 RPP
- Goods
Goods
105 RPP
What this shows Walla Walla's gap from the national average is led by rents at 86.6. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Walla Walla's cost comes from
Metros near Walla Walla's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 97, rents 101.6). Walla Walla is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Walla Walla's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
105.0
+5.0 above avg
Services
94.3
-5.7 below avg
Rents
86.6
-13.4 below avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$98,519
in Walla Walla, WA purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$49,260
$75,000 nationally
$73,889
$125,000 nationally
$123,149
$150,000 nationally
$147,779
$200,000 nationally
$197,038
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending upward, increasing by 2.9 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.6 |
| 2009 | 94.9 |
| 2010 | 94.3 |
| 2011 | 94.3 |
| 2012 | 95.1 |
| 2013 | 95.3 |
| 2014 | 98.4 |
| 2015 | 99.9 |
| 2016 | 96.3 |
| 2017 | 99.5 |
| 2018 | 99.4 |
| 2019 | 100.7 |
| 2020 | 95.2 |
| 2021 | 99.1 |
| 2022 | 100.6 |
| 2023 | 97.9 |
| 2024 | 98.5 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Walla Walla, WA's index of 98.5.
Other WA Metros
What this means for Walla Walla
How to read Walla Walla's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.
- Budget to local prices, not headline pay — a $100K national salary spends like about $101,503 in Walla Walla. Salary calculator
- Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 86.6 (13.4% below average) — the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
- Local median household income is $72,212; adjusted for Walla Walla's price level that is about $73,298 in national-average buying power.
- Compare Walla Walla head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros
RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown — not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Walla Walla, WA? ▼
Walla Walla, WA has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 98.5, meaning it is 1.5% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 105.0, services at 94.3, and rents at 86.6. It ranks #102 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Walla Walla, WA to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $98,519 in Walla Walla, WA. Conversely, $100K earned in Walla Walla, WA has the purchasing power of $101,503 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Walla Walla, WA? ▼
Rents in Walla Walla, WA are indexed at 86.6, which is 13.4% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Walla Walla, WA getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Walla Walla, WA's overall cost index changed by +2.9 points (from 95.6 to 98.5). The cost of living has been trending upward.
What costs the most in Walla Walla, WA? ▼
The most expensive category in Walla Walla, WA is goods at 105.0, which is 5.0% above the national average. The most affordable category is rents at 86.6, 13.4% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Walla Walla, WA? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, Boise City, Harrisburg-Carlisle. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Walla Walla, WA's 98.5.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
