Tacoma vs Vancouver
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Tacoma
Vancouver
The Verdict
Tacoma is 4.1% less expensive than Vancouver overall. A household earning $75,000 in Tacoma would need approximately $78,205 in Vancouver 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 Tacoma has the same purchasing power as $78,205 in Vancouver.
Conversely, $75,000 in Vancouver equals $71,926 in Tacoma.
Living in Tacoma vs Vancouver
Housing Costs
Tacoma's housing index of 140 is lower Vancouver's 163, translating to median home prices of $400,000 vs $525,000. 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: $1,600/mo in Tacoma compared to $1,650/mo in Vancouver, a monthly difference of $50.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 105 in Tacoma and 104 in Vancouver. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $499/month in Tacoma vs $494/month in Vancouver. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 108 in Tacoma and 87 in Vancouver. Monthly utility bills average approximately $432 in Tacoma vs $348 in Vancouver. 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 106 in Tacoma and 103 in Vancouver. 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 $58,974 in Tacoma and $79,300 in Vancouver. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $50,405 and $65,000 respectively. Vancouver residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,376/month to housing in Tacoma vs $1,850/month in Vancouver. In Tacoma, median rent of $1,600/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Vancouver, median rent of $1,650/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 23 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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