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Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Cost of living in Tacoma, Washington

Pierce County, WA

Part of the Seattle Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,742/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 924,106 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,673 45%
Federal tax $683 18%
Healthcare $480 13%
Groceries $369 10%
Transport $320 9%
Energy $157 4%
Water $60 2%
State tax $0 0%

Rent in Tacoma

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,479
per month
1 bedroom
$1,673
per month
2 bedroom
$2,057
per month
3 bedroom
$2,882
per month
4 bedroom
$3,292
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Tacoma

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$96,632
per year
Individual earnings
$51,828
per year
Per capita
$45,885
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Tacoma

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$484,400
Annual property tax
$4,555

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Tacoma

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 Tacoma

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
6.1%

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 Tacoma

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 Tacoma

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
31.6 min
Drive alone
71.8%
Public transit
2.5%
Work from home
12.3%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Tacoma

What it costs to live in Tacoma each month.

Single person
$3,742
per month
  • Rent $1,673
  • Energy $157
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $369
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $683
  • State tax $0
Couple
$5,462
per month
  • Rent $2,057
  • Energy $188
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $611
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,252
  • State tax $0
Family
$8,453
per month
  • Rent $2,882
  • Energy $236
  • Water $85
  • Groceries $928
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,252
  • State tax $0

Frequently asked questions about Tacoma

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Tacoma?

In Tacoma, Washington, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,673 per month, a two-bedroom averages $2,057 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,882 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Tacoma?

In Tacoma, Washington, the average household income is $96,632 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $51,828 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Tacoma?

The estimated cost of living in Tacoma, Washington is approximately $3,742 per month for a single person, $5,462 for a couple, $8,453 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Tacoma?

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

Is Tacoma an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Tacoma, Washington would need approximately $3,742 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $96,632 per year ($8,053 per month). Tacoma is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Tacoma?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Tacoma, Washington is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 6.1% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Tacoma?

The average home value in Tacoma, Washington is $484,400, with average annual property taxes of $4,555, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Tacoma compare to other areas?

You can compare Tacoma, Washington with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Tacoma is in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, 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 Tacoma 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