Duluth vs Olympia
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Duluth
Olympia
The Verdict
Duluth is 24.1% less expensive than Olympia overall. A household earning $75,000 in Duluth would need approximately $98,824 in Olympia to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Duluth has the same purchasing power as $98,824 in Olympia.
Conversely, $75,000 in Olympia equals $56,920 in Duluth.
Living in Duluth vs Olympia
Housing Costs
Duluth's housing index of 88 is lower Olympia's 131, translating to median home prices of $268,000 vs $495,000. The $227,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,760 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Duluth compared to $1,600/mo in Olympia, a monthly difference of $575.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Duluth and 105 in Olympia. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Duluth vs $499/month in Olympia. Duluth offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Duluth and 91 in Olympia. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Duluth vs $364 in Olympia. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 123 in Duluth and 124 in Olympia. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $68,800 in Duluth and $81,300 in Olympia. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $80,941 and $72,589 respectively. Duluth residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,605/month to housing in Duluth vs $1,897/month in Olympia. In Duluth, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Olympia, median rent of $1,600/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 43 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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