Cost of Living in Port Angeles, WA

An Overview of Cost of Living in Port Angeles, WA

The cost of living in Port Angeles affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Port Angeles is 116, which is 16% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Everyday goods and services make up 33% of the cost of living index and include things like clothing, personal hygiene products and entertainment which are a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Unfortunately, Port Angeles goods and services are 18.9% more expensive than the national average, leaving you with less money at the end of the month.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Port Angeles?

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 11 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Port Angeles. The results indicated that 45% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 55% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is Port Angeles Affordable?

Is Port Angeles affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Port Angeles, the median home price is 25.6% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 3.3% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Port Angeles boasting a median household income of $48,567, 12.2% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Port Angeles?

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 Port Angeles, the utilities index stands at 10.5% lower than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Port Angeles, the groceries index is 9.4% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday goods and services, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Port Angeles, the standard sales tax rate starts at 6.5%, and the income tax rates commence at 0%.

Where is the Data From?

The Port Angeles 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.