F
40%
Overall NAT. AVG.
13%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
109%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Anacortes Washington National
Cost of living140118100
Goods & Services113111100
Groceries109110100
Health care123120100
Housing209135100
Transportation117123100
Utilities9292100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Anacortes, WA

Knowing the cost of living in Anacortes allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Anacortes stands at 140, marking it 40% higher than the national average.

If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Anacortes may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Anacortes falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.

Housing costs significantly influence the Anacortes cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 109%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

The things you purchase regularly, like clothes, haircuts, movie tickets and gym memberships, can make a big dent in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. Unfortunately in Anacortes, these items will cost you 13.1% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Anacortes?

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 9 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Anacortes. The results indicated that 56% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 44% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is Anacortes Affordable?

Is Anacortes an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Anacortes, the median home price is 141.5% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 33.2% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Anacortes come in at $74,161, which is 34.1% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Anacortes?

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Anacortes, is 109% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Anacortes, the utilities index stands at 8% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Anacortes cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Anacortes is 19% higher than the Washington average
  • The cost of living in Anacortes is 40% higher than the national average
  • Anacortes housing is 109% higher than the national average
  • Washington general sales tax is 27% higher than the national average
  • Washington state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Anacortes

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Compare Anacortes, WA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$84,792$7,066$1,978$2,544
      Renters$53,288$4,441$1,243$1,599
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Anacortes, WA, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Anacortes, homeowners have a median income of $84,792. Using that number, a maximum of $1,978 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $53,288, which means there is a maximum of $1,243 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      Washington Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Washington 6.5% 10.4%

      Washington Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Washington 0% 0%

      Goods & Services

      Item Anacortes National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.78$24.2610.4%
      Beauty Salon $67.83$45.5648.9%
      Toothpaste $3.48$3.706.0%
      Shampoo $1.23$1.283.7%
      Movie $12.82$12.135.7%
      Bowling $18.58$18.003.2%

      Groceries

      Item Anacortes National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.76$5.8415.7%
      Fried Chicken $2.22$1.5741.3%
      Milk $4.98$4.676.7%
      Potatoes $4.43$4.9310.2%
      Pizza $12.95$12.097.2%
      Beer $11.47$10.4110.2%

      Health Care

      Item Anacortes National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $187.66$125.6849.3%
      Doctor $228.42$135.7868.2%
      Dentist $136.92$113.2920.9%
      Ibuprofen $11.80$10.6510.7%
      Lipitor $415.36$468.6011.4%

      Housing

      Item Anacortes National avg. Difference
      Home Price $446,000.00$184,700.00141.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,731.21$2,346.6916.4%
      Apartment Rent $1,264.00$949.0033.2%

      Transportation

      Item Anacortes National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.35$3.4625.7%
      Tire Balancing $87.22$59.9245.6%

      Utilities

      Item Anacortes National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $153.78$193.9920.7%
      Phone $202.97$192.255.6%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Conway, WA4011010.5%
      Whidbey Island Station, WA2,37511716.8%
      Burlington, WA9,08511919.3%
      Mount Vernon, WA35,50212222.5%
      Oak Harbor, WA23,35812323.0%
      Anacortes, WA17,23114040.0%

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      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Tavares, FL17,228954.7%
      New Castle, IN17,2348416.3%
      Flowing Wells, AZ17,2278712.8%
      Perry, GA17,235928.2%
      Pampa, TX17,2268119.1%
      Anacortes, WA17,23114040.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.