F
36%
Overall NAT. AVG.
17%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
85%
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 Fort Lewis Washington National
Cost of living136118100
Goods & Services117111100
Groceries113110100
Health care125120100
Housing185135100
Transportation124123100
Utilities9592100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Fort Lewis, WA

Knowing the cost of living in Fort Lewis 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 Fort Lewis stands at 136, marking it 36% higher than the national average.

If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Fort Lewis is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Fort Lewis falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Fort Lewis cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 84.8% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, 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 Fort Lewis, these items will cost you 17.1% 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, Fort Lewis does not fare better, with grocery expenses coming in at 13.1% higher than the national average.

Is Fort Lewis Affordable?

Is Fort Lewis affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Fort Lewis, the median home price is 100% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 84.8% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Fort Lewis boasting a median household income of $42,985, 22.3% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Fort Lewis?

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Fort Lewis, healthcare costs are 24.6% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Fort Lewis, the groceries index registers 13.1% higher than the national average.

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Fort Lewis, is 84.8% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Fort Lewis cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Fort Lewis is 15% higher than the Washington average
  • The cost of living in Fort Lewis is 36% higher than the national average
  • Fort Lewis housing is 85% 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 Fort Lewis

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Compare Fort Lewis, WA Cost of Living

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      Cost of living index
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      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$0$0$0$0
      Renters$42,861$3,572$1,000$1,286
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Fort Lewis, WA, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Fort Lewis have a median income of $0. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $0 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $42,861, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $1,000.

      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 Fort Lewis National avg. Difference
      Haircut $23.76$24.262.1%
      Beauty Salon $54.27$45.5619.1%
      Toothpaste $4.15$3.7012.1%
      Shampoo $1.38$1.287.6%
      Movie $11.92$12.131.8%
      Bowling $21.09$18.0017.2%

      Groceries

      Item Fort Lewis National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.71$5.842.2%
      Fried Chicken $2.55$1.5762.3%
      Milk $5.14$4.6710.0%
      Potatoes $3.87$4.9321.6%
      Pizza $15.13$12.0925.2%
      Beer $11.74$10.4112.8%

      Health Care

      Item Fort Lewis National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $191.81$125.6852.6%
      Doctor $192.99$135.7842.1%
      Dentist $127.12$113.2912.2%
      Ibuprofen $11.85$10.6511.2%
      Lipitor $555.70$468.6018.6%

      Housing

      Item Fort Lewis National avg. Difference
      Home Price $0.00$184,700.00100.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,051.24$2,346.6930.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,754.00$949.0084.8%

      Transportation

      Item Fort Lewis National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.20$3.4621.3%
      Tire Balancing $78.74$59.9231.4%

      Utilities

      Item Fort Lewis National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $169.30$193.9912.7%
      Phone $204.78$192.256.5%
      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.
      Ketron Island, WA011514.6%
      North Yelm, WA3,7381098.8%
      North Puyallup, WA1,97011515.1%
      Nisqually Indian Community, WA59111514.6%
      Midland, WA9,51811817.9%
      Fort Lewis, WA13,04513635.7%

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      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Jupiter Farms, FL13,04512929.3%
      Trenton, OH13,046973.2%
      Steamboat Springs, CO13,04814847.8%
      Annapolis Neck, MD13,04916564.8%
      Woodinville, WA13,03817979.4%
      Fort Lewis, WA13,04513635.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.