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Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA

Cost of living in Chelan County, WA

Part of the Wenatchee Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,031/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 79,518 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,134 37%
Federal tax $511 17%
Healthcare $480 16%
Groceries $369 12%
Transport $320 11%
Energy $157 5%
Water $60 2%
State tax $0 0%

Rent in Chelan County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,020
per month
1 bedroom
$1,134
per month
2 bedroom
$1,488
per month
3 bedroom
$2,065
per month
4 bedroom
$2,444
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Chelan County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$78,306
per year
Individual earnings
$41,309
per year
Per capita
$42,092
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Chelan County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$454,900
Annual property tax
$3,235

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Chelan County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$109
per month · 11.5¢/kWh
Natural gas
$48
per month
Annual total
$1,884
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Chelan County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
11.3%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Chelan County

State and local tax rates for Washington.

No state income tax
Washington does not levy a personal income tax.
State sales tax
6.5%
Combined sales tax
10.2%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Chelan County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
19.5 min
Drive alone
73.8%
Public transit
1.5%
Work from home
8.6%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Chelan County

What it costs to live in Chelan County each month.

Single person
$3,031
per month
  • Rent $1,134
  • Energy $157
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $369
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $511
  • State tax $0
Couple
$4,593
per month
  • Rent $1,488
  • Energy $188
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $611
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $952
  • State tax $0
Family
$7,336
per month
  • Rent $2,065
  • Energy $236
  • Water $85
  • Groceries $928
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $952
  • State tax $0

Frequently asked questions about Chelan County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Chelan County?

In Chelan County, WA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,134 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,488 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,065 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Chelan County?

In Chelan County, WA, the average household income is $78,306 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $41,309 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Chelan County?

The estimated cost of living in Chelan County, WA is approximately $3,031 per month for a single person, $4,593 for a couple, $7,336 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Chelan County?

The combined sales tax rate in Chelan County, WA is 10.23%, which includes the Washington state rate of 6.50% plus an average local rate of 3.73%.

Is Chelan County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Chelan County, WA would need approximately $3,031 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $78,306 per year ($6,526 per month). Chelan County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Chelan County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Chelan County, WA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 11.3% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Chelan County?

The average home value in Chelan County, WA is $454,900, with average annual property taxes of $3,235, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Chelan County compare to other areas?

You can compare Chelan County, WA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Chelan County is in the Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA metro area.

Other counties in Washington

Browse the full list of counties in Washington, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Washington

Compare Chelan County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources