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Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA

Cost of living in Thurston County, WA

Part of the Olympia Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,571/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 296,640 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,585 44%
Federal tax $670 19%
Healthcare $480 13%
Groceries $369 10%
Transport $250 7%
Energy $157 4%
Water $60 2%
State tax $0 0%

Rent in Thurston County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,393
per month
1 bedroom
$1,585
per month
2 bedroom
$1,843
per month
3 bedroom
$2,526
per month
4 bedroom
$3,095
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Thurston County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$93,985
per year
Individual earnings
$51,041
per year
Per capita
$44,646
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Thurston County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$451,500
Annual property tax
$4,043

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Thurston 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 Thurston County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
5.0%

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 Thurston 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 Thurston County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
26.3 min
Drive alone
69.2%
Public transit
1.4%
Work from home
17.3%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Thurston County

What it costs to live in Thurston County each month.

Single person
$3,571
per month
  • Rent $1,585
  • Energy $157
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $369
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $670
  • State tax $0
Couple
$5,134
per month
  • Rent $1,843
  • Energy $188
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $611
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,208
  • State tax $0
Family
$7,983
per month
  • Rent $2,526
  • Energy $236
  • Water $85
  • Groceries $928
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,208
  • State tax $0

Frequently asked questions about Thurston County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Thurston County?

In Thurston County, WA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,585 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,843 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,526 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Thurston County?

In Thurston County, WA, the average household income is $93,985 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $51,041 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Thurston County?

The estimated cost of living in Thurston County, WA is approximately $3,571 per month for a single person, $5,134 for a couple, $7,983 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Thurston County?

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

Is Thurston County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Thurston County, WA would need approximately $3,571 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $93,985 per year ($7,832 per month). Thurston County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Thurston County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Thurston County, WA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 5.0% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Thurston County?

The average home value in Thurston County, WA is $451,500, with average annual property taxes of $4,043, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Thurston County compare to other areas?

You can compare Thurston County, WA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Thurston County is in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, 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 Thurston 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