Olympia vs Peoria
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Olympia
Peoria
The Verdict
Peoria is 47.4% less expensive than Olympia overall. A household earning $75,000 in Olympia would need approximately $50,893 in Peoria 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 Olympia has the same purchasing power as $50,893 in Peoria.
Conversely, $75,000 in Peoria equals $110,526 in Olympia.
Living in Olympia vs Peoria
Housing Costs
Olympia's housing index of 131 is higher Peoria's 42, translating to median home prices of $495,000 vs $164,000. The $331,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,516 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,600/mo in Olympia compared to $1,000/mo in Peoria, a monthly difference of $600.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 105 in Olympia and 97 in Peoria. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $499/month in Olympia vs $461/month in Peoria. Peoria offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 91 in Olympia and 103 in Peoria. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Olympia vs $412 in Peoria. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 124 in Olympia and 107 in Peoria. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 17-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $81,300 in Olympia and $58,700 in Peoria. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $72,589 and $77,237 respectively. Peoria residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,897/month to housing in Olympia vs $1,370/month in Peoria. In Olympia, median rent of $1,600/mo fits within this budget. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 89 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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