F
37%
Overall NAT. AVG.
13%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
93%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Bonney Lake Washington National
Cost of living137118100
Goods & Services113111100
Groceries116110100
Health care115120100
Housing193135100
Transportation125123100
Utilities9792100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Bonney Lake, WA

Knowing the cost of living in Bonney Lake allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Bonney Lake stands at 137, marking it 37% higher than the national average.

The cost of living in Bonney Lake is among the highest in the country, making it a very expensive place to live. Only a small fraction of regions boast a cost of living that is at least 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Bonney Lake falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.

When it comes to the cost of living in Bonney Lake, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 93.5% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

Recurring goods and services expenses like haircuts, toothpaste, gym memberships and movie nights are a big part of your spending and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Bonney Lake, these items will cost you 13% more than what most folks pay, making it a bit more expensive to live here.

The surge in grocery costs is indeed alarming, especially when groceries make up a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Over the past two years, there has been an inflation of over 10% in grocery prices. Unfortunately, Bonney Lake does not fare better, with grocery expenses coming in at 16% higher than the national average.

Is Bonney Lake Affordable?

Is Bonney Lake affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Bonney Lake, for instance, where the median home price falls 101.5% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 74.7% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Bonney Lake flaunting a median household income of $100,951, 82.5% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Bonney Lake?

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Bonney Lake, the transportation index is 25.2% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Bonney Lake cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Bonney Lake is 16% higher than the Washington average
  • The cost of living in Bonney Lake is 37% higher than the national average
  • Bonney Lake housing is 93% higher than the national average
  • Washington general sales tax is 27% higher than the national average
  • Washington state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Bonney Lake

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Compare Bonney Lake, WA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$108,984$9,082$2,543$3,270
      Renters$67,105$5,592$1,566$2,013
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Bonney Lake, WA, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Bonney Lake homeowners, is $108,984. This would allow for a maximum of $2,543 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $67,105 which would result in a maximum of $1,566 to be spent on rental costs.

      Washington Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Washington 6.5% 10.4%

      Washington Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Washington 0% 0%

      Goods & Services

      Item Bonney Lake National avg. Difference
      Haircut $32.12$24.2632.4%
      Beauty Salon $43.48$45.564.6%
      Toothpaste $3.46$3.706.6%
      Shampoo $1.24$1.283.4%
      Movie $11.87$12.132.2%
      Bowling $17.56$18.002.5%

      Groceries

      Item Bonney Lake National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.66$5.843.0%
      Fried Chicken $2.78$1.5776.8%
      Milk $4.85$4.673.7%
      Potatoes $4.43$4.9310.3%
      Pizza $14.86$12.0922.9%
      Beer $11.77$10.4113.1%

      Health Care

      Item Bonney Lake National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $242.14$125.6892.7%
      Doctor $139.77$135.782.9%
      Dentist $164.30$113.2945.0%
      Ibuprofen $11.87$10.6511.4%
      Lipitor $448.83$468.604.2%

      Housing

      Item Bonney Lake National avg. Difference
      Home Price $372,200.00$184,700.00101.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,843.91$2,346.6921.2%
      Apartment Rent $1,658.00$949.0074.7%

      Transportation

      Item Bonney Lake National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.39$3.4626.9%
      Tire Balancing $77.69$59.9229.7%

      Utilities

      Item Bonney Lake National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $175.38$193.999.6%
      Phone $207.11$192.257.7%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      North Puyallup, WA1,97011515.1%
      Midland, WA9,51811817.9%
      Parkland, WA37,94612120.6%
      South Prairie, WA29712120.8%
      Carbonado, WA68312121.2%
      Bonney Lake, WA21,24713737.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Carrboro, NC21,25412222.3%
      Pickerington, OH21,2571054.6%
      Beaumont, AB21,267n/a 
      Birmingham, MI21,27214847.5%
      Arvin, CA21,2201099.4%
      Bonney Lake, WA21,24713737.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.