CostIndexUSA

Duluth, MN vs Olympia, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMN
Duluth
88.8
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
WA
Olympia
103.7
overall index
$2,025/mo rent

Duluth is significantly cheaper than Olympia — 16.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Duluth, you would need $93,400 in Olympia. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+64.1%
Duluth
71.1
Olympia
116.7
🛒 Groceries+10.2%
Duluth
95.3
Olympia
105
🚗 Transportation+7.9%
Duluth
96.8
Olympia
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+7.9%
Duluth
87.6
Olympia
94.5
Utilities+5.0%
Duluth
87.3
Olympia
91.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Olympia, WA
$93,400
$13,400 more needed in Olympia

Formula: salary × (103.7 ÷ 88.8) = salary × 1.1678. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Duluth, MN

Median Home Price
$245,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
71.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.7×

Olympia, WA

Median Home Price
$518,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,025
Housing Index
116.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.3×

Olympia has 64.1% higher housing costs compared to Duluth.

Income & Job Market

Duluth, MN

Median Household Income
$70,200
Per Capita Income
$40,000
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
89,127
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationShippingManufacturingTourism

Olympia, WA

Median Household Income
$93,200
Per Capita Income
$53,100
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
53,532
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationRetailManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

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

Duluth, MN
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Olympia, WA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.