CostIndexUSA

San Bernardino, CA vs Tacoma, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableCA
San Bernardino
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent
WA
Tacoma
111.1
overall index
$2,175/mo rent

San Bernardino is slightly cheaper than Tacoma — 4.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in San Bernardino, you would need $83,500 in Tacoma. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+17.0%
San Bernardino
129.3
Tacoma
151.3
🛒 Groceries+2.6%
San Bernardino
101.4
Tacoma
104
🚗 Transportation+5.6%
San Bernardino
106.3
Tacoma
112.2
🏥 Healthcare+5.5%
San Bernardino
96.2
Tacoma
101.5
Utilities37.6%
San Bernardino
148.6
Tacoma
92.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in San Bernardino to see what you'd need to earn in Tacoma to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Tacoma, WA
$83,500
$3,500 more needed in Tacoma

Formula: salary × (111.1 ÷ 106.4) = salary × 1.0442. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

San Bernardino, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Tacoma, WA

Median Home Price
$730,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,175
Housing Index
151.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
28.0×

Tacoma has 17.0% higher housing costs compared to San Bernardino.

Income & Job Market

San Bernardino, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
222,101
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsGovernmentRetailManufacturing

Tacoma, WA

Median Household Income
$110,700
Per Capita Income
$63,100
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
219,346
Top Industries
MilitaryManufacturingHealthcareLogisticsRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

San Bernardino, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% of income left after rent (median)

Tacoma, WA
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.