PlainCost
Home / Metros / Yakima

Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP

Yakima, WA

Cost-of-living indicators for Yakima, WA, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.

95.5
Overall RPP
#157
of 387 metros
72.6
Rents RPP
$105K
$100K national buys

The verdict

Yakima costs less than 41% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 95.5, 4.5% below the national average, with rents the biggest swing at 72.6.

95.5
overall cost index (US average = 100)
#157
most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
bottom 59%
by overall cost, nationwide
72.6
rents RPP — the biggest budget swing

A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $104,663 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $95,545.

What the Numbers Mean for Yakima

Yakima ranks #157 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 95.5, Yakima, WA is 4.5% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Yakima's most and least expensive categories — goods at 105.0 versus rents at 72.6 — 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 $104,663 inside Yakima, while a household needs roughly $95,545 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 72.6 — 27.4% 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, Yakima's overall index has risen by 2.5 points, signaling tightening affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 105.0 and services at 91.9, meaning everyday spending in Yakima 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.

Yakima vs every U.S. metro

Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution

96 Top 41% higher than 59% of 387 US metros

80–84: 3 US metros (1%). Below this entry. 84–88: 48 US metros (12%). Below this entry. 88–92: 94 US metros (24%). Below this entry. 92–96: 97 US metros (25%). This entry sits in this band. 96–100: 55 US metros (14%). Above this entry. 100–104: 54 US metros (14%). Above this entry. 104–108: 17 US metros (4%). Above this entry. 108–112: 14 US metros (4%). Above this entry. 112–116: 5 US metros (1%). Above this entry. 116–120: 0 US metros (0%). Above this entry. This metro 80 120 every US metro, bucketed by value

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

Yakima cost breakdown

BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average

RPP

What this shows Yakima's gap from the national average is led by rents at 72.6. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.

Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities As of 2024

Goods vs. housing — where Yakima's cost comes from

Metros near Yakima'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 96.1, rents 87.2). Yakima is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Yakima'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.

Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 96.1, rents 87.2). Yakima is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Yakima'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. 2×2 strategic matrix plotting 7 entities by Goods RPP (tradable items) → (X) and Rents RPP (housing) → (Y), with a crosshair dividing the plot into four quadrants. Pricier on bothMore housing-ledMore goods-ledCheaper on both 9095100105110 707580859095 Goods RPP (tradable items) → Rents RPP (housing) → YakimaAlbuquerqueGrand RapidsGrand JunctionSalisburyColumbusHelena
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 96.1, rents 87.2). Yakima is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Yakima'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

Overall

95.5

-4.5 below avg

Goods

105.0

+5.0 above avg

Services

91.9

-8.1 below avg

Rents

72.6

-27.4 below avg

Salary Equivalent

A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:

$95,545

in Yakima, WA purchasing power

$50,000 nationally
$47,773
$75,000 nationally
$71,659
$125,000 nationally
$119,431
$150,000 nationally
$143,318
$200,000 nationally
$191,090

Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.

RPP History (2008-2024)

The cost of living has been trending upward, increasing by 2.5 points over this period.

Year Overall
2008 93.0
2009 96.4
2010 95.6
2011 98.1
2012 97.1
2013 97.0
2014 96.8
2015 94.5
2016 94.4
2017 94.9
2018 97.2
2019 96.8
2020 96.2
2021 97.7
2022 100.8
2023 97.9
2024 95.5

Metros with Similar Cost of Living

These metros have an overall RPP closest to Yakima, WA's index of 95.5.

Albuquerque, NM 95.5 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI 95.5 Grand Junction, CO 95.5 Salisbury, MD 95.6 Columbus, OH 95.5 Helena, MT 95.7

Other WA Metros

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue 111.1 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard 105.6 Wenatchee-East Wenatchee 103.9 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater 103.7 Bellingham 103.3 Mount Vernon-Anacortes 102.4

View all WA metros →

Compare to Other Metros

vs New York-Newark-Jersey City vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington vs Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands Custom Compare →

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

View all guides →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Yakima, WA? ▼
Yakima, WA has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 95.5, meaning it is 4.5% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 105.0, services at 91.9, and rents at 72.6. It ranks #157 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Yakima, WA to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $95,545 in Yakima, WA. Conversely, $100K earned in Yakima, WA has the purchasing power of $104,663 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Yakima, WA? ▼
Rents in Yakima, WA are indexed at 72.6, which is 27.4% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Yakima, WA getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Yakima, WA's overall cost index changed by +2.5 points (from 93.0 to 95.5). The cost of living has been trending upward.
What costs the most in Yakima, WA? ▼
The most expensive category in Yakima, WA is goods at 105.0, which is 5.0% above the national average. The most affordable category is rents at 72.6, 27.4% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Yakima, WA? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Albuquerque, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, Grand Junction. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Yakima, WA's 95.5.

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.

Related

Browse all → | Rankings →
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