CostIndexUSA

Denver, CO vs Yakima, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Denver
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableWA
Yakima
95.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Yakima is moderately cheaper than Denver — 9.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Denver, you would need $72,200 in Yakima. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing50.6%
Denver
146.9
Yakima
72.6
🛒 Groceries+4.0%
Denver
101
Yakima
105
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Denver
104.4
Yakima
104.4
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Denver
94.5
Yakima
94.5
Utilities+4.6%
Denver
87.9
Yakima
91.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Denver to see what you'd need to earn in Yakima to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Yakima, WA
$72,200
$7,800 less needed in Yakima

Formula: salary × (95.5 ÷ 105.8) = salary × 0.9026. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Denver, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Yakima, WA

Median Home Price
$342,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
72.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.9×

Denver has 50.6% lower housing costs compared to Yakima.

Income & Job Market

Denver, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
715,522
Top Industries
TechnologyAerospaceEnergyHealthcareTourism

Yakima, WA

Median Household Income
$69,500
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
92,685
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Denver, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Yakima, WA
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.