City comparison
Olympia, WA vs Spokane, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Olympia, WA are 3.3% higher than in Spokane, WA. Someone earning $100,000 in Spokane, WA would need about $103,300 in Olympia, WA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,682 a month in Olympia, WA versus $1,193 in Spokane, WA. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Olympia, WA and 18% in Spokane, WA.
- Both are in WA, so estimated state income tax is the same: $0 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.6% moving from Olympia, WA to Spokane, WA ($119,630 → $106,991), while prices change by −3.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −7.6% in real buying power.
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (pricier)
- Spokane, WA: price level 100.3 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Olympia, WA | Spokane, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.7 | 100.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,794 in Spokane | $103,313 in Olympia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,682/mo | $1,193/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (WA) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $61,960 | $54,660 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Seattle-Tacoma, WA | Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID |
Rent areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA and Spokane, WA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA and Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Olympia | Spokane |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.7 | 97.1 |
| Goods | 105.0 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 91.7 | 91.2 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 103.7 | 100.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Olympia, WA → Spokane, WA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
79 Strong offer
Spokane, WA → Olympia, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.2%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
58 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Olympia, WA is in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA pay area; Spokane, WA is in Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID. The last column shows what a transfer from Olympia, WA to Spokane, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Olympia, WA | Spokane, WA | Real change, Olympia → Spokane |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,373 | $62,044 | −7.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,935 | $75,068 | −7.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,602 | $89,974 | −7.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $119,630 | $106,991 | −7.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,367 | $126,432 | −7.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Olympia, WA | Spokane, WA | Spokane pay in Olympia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $104,650 | $98,800 | $102,073 (−2.5%) |
| Software Developers | $124,060 | $130,690 | $135,019 (+8.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $94,470 | $86,350 | $89,210 (−5.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,020 | $111,750 | $115,452 (−7.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.