D-
30%
Overall NAT. AVG.
17%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
65%
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 Prairie Ridge Washington National
Cost of living130118100
Goods & Services117111100
Groceries113110100
Health care125120100
Housing165135100
Transportation124123100
Utilities9592100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Prairie Ridge, WA

Knowing the cost of living in Prairie Ridge 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 Prairie Ridge stands at 130, marking it 30% higher than the national average.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Prairie Ridge may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Prairie Ridge falls within this bracket.

Housing costs significantly influence the Prairie Ridge cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 65.1%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

Goods and services make up 33% of the total cost of living index score and are a large part of your everyday expenses. These items could include things like haircuts, salons, toothpaste, shampoo, clothes, movies, bowling, gym memberships or yoga. In Prairie Ridge, you can expect to pay 17.1% more than average for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

The cost of groceries continues to rise at an alarming rate. Over the last two years, grocery prices have increased by more than 10%! Unfortunately, in Prairie Ridge, the news isn't any better as grocery prices are 13.1% higher than the national average.

Is Prairie Ridge Affordable?

Is Prairie Ridge 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 Prairie Ridge, for instance, where the median home price falls 66.1% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 62.8% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Prairie Ridge flaunting a median household income of $85,384, 54.3% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Prairie Ridge?

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Prairie Ridge comes in at 5.2% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday goods and services, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Prairie Ridge, the standard sales tax rate starts at 6.5%, and the income tax rates commence at 0%.

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Prairie Ridge, healthcare costs are 24.6% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Prairie Ridge 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 Prairie Ridge is 10% higher than the Washington average
  • The cost of living in Prairie Ridge is 30% higher than the national average
  • Prairie Ridge housing is 65% 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 Prairie Ridge

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Compare Prairie Ridge, 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$91,021$7,585$2,124$2,731
      Renters$62,292$5,191$1,453$1,869
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Prairie Ridge, 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 Prairie Ridge have a median income of $91,021. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $2,124 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $62,292, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $1,453.

      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 Prairie Ridge 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 Prairie Ridge 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 Prairie Ridge 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 Prairie Ridge National avg. Difference
      Home Price $306,800.00$184,700.0066.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,051.24$2,346.6930.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,545.00$949.0062.8%

      Transportation

      Item Prairie Ridge National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.20$3.4621.3%
      Tire Balancing $78.74$59.9231.4%

      Utilities

      Item Prairie Ridge 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.
      North Puyallup, WA1,97011515.1%
      Midland, WA9,51811817.9%
      Clear Lake CDP (Pierce County), WA94211818.4%
      Parkland, WA37,94612120.6%
      South Prairie, WA29712120.8%
      Prairie Ridge, WA11,98013029.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Norton, OH11,984946.2%
      Wetaskiwin County No. 10, AB11,985n/a 
      Brown Deer, WI11,987991.0%
      Fuller Heights, FL11,9891021.8%
      Winfield, KS11,9908019.8%
      Prairie Ridge, WA11,98013029.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.