City Comparison

Gilbert vs Kent

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gilbert

Arizona
111
Above Average
$470,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$94,518
Median Income

Kent

Washington
137
Expensive
$595,000
Median Home
$1,750/mo
Median Rent
$98,300
Median Income

The Verdict

19.0%

Gilbert is 19.0% less expensive than Kent overall. A household earning $75,000 in Gilbert would need approximately $92,568 in Kent to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
128
Gilbert
195
Kent
Groceries
100
Gilbert
109
Kent
Utilities
96
Gilbert
92
Kent
Transportation
103
Gilbert
117
Kent
Healthcare
95
Gilbert
122
Kent

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gilbert has the same purchasing power as $92,568 in Kent.

Conversely, $75,000 in Kent equals $60,766 in Gilbert.

Living in Gilbert vs Kent

Housing Costs

Gilbert's housing index of 128 is lower Kent's 195, translating to median home prices of $470,000 vs $595,000. The $125,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,124 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,700/mo in Gilbert compared to $1,750/mo in Kent, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Gilbert and 109 in Kent. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Gilbert vs $518/month in Kent. Gilbert offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Gilbert and 92 in Kent. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Gilbert vs $368 in Kent. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 95 in Gilbert and 122 in Kent. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 27-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $94,518 in Gilbert and $98,300 in Kent. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $85,151 and $71,752 respectively. Gilbert residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,205/month to housing in Gilbert vs $2,294/month in Kent. In Gilbert, median rent of $1,700/mo fits within this budget. In Kent, median rent of $1,750/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 67 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gilbert is 19.0% more affordable overall with an index of 111 vs 137.
A $75,000 salary in Gilbert has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $92,568 in Kent, based on the cost of living difference.
Gilbert's housing index is 128 with median homes at $470,000, while Kent's is 195 with median homes at $595,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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