Airway Heights, WA vs Kelso, WA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Kelso, WA has a modeled overall cost index 29.1% higher than Airway Heights, WA.

Airway Heights, WA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,650 / month
Kelso, WA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,440 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Airway Heights, WA and Kelso, WA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Airway Heights, WA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,566/month in Kelso, WA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $168,797 in Kelso, WA

Regional cost estimates: Airway Heights, WA uses Spokane, WA. Kelso, WA uses Portland, OR. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 29.1%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,566

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$18.8K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Airway Heights, WA

Population:11K

Cost Index:

88.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$367K

Kelso, WA

Population:13K

Cost Index:

114.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$380K

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Airway Heights, WA

The Evergreen State

11K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Washington, this city has a population of 11K residents.

💡 Advantage: Washington has no state income tax!

Kelso, WA

The Evergreen State

13K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Washington, this city has a population of 13K residents.

💡 Advantage: Washington has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Airway Heights, WA vs Kelso, WA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Airway Heights, WA	Kelso, WA	Difference	Change
Housing	$1,955/mo	$3,751/mo	↑ $1,797more	91.9%
Other	$1,446/mo	$1,706/mo	↑ $260more	18.0%
Transportation	$1,783/mo	$1,525/mo	↓ $258less	14.5%
Healthcare	$801/mo	$626/mo	↓ $175less	21.8%
Groceries	$1,049/mo	$1,009/mo	↓ $39.35less	3.8%
All Utilities	$467/mo	$449/mo	↓ $18.49less	4.0%

Housing

↑ 91.9%

Airway Heights, WA

$1,955

Kelso, WA

$3,751

Difference

$1,797

Other

↑ 18.0%

Airway Heights, WA

$1,446

Kelso, WA

$1,706

Difference

$260

Transportation

↓ 14.5%

Airway Heights, WA

$1,783

Kelso, WA

$1,525

Difference

$258

less

Healthcare

↓ 21.8%

Airway Heights, WA

$801

Kelso, WA

$626

Difference

$175

less

Groceries

↓ 3.8%

Airway Heights, WA

$1,049

Kelso, WA

$1,009

Difference

$39.35

less

All Utilities

↓ 4.0%

Airway Heights, WA

$467

Kelso, WA

$449

Difference

$18.49

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,190

To$990

↓ $200

1 Bed

From$1,290

To$1,190

↓ $100

2 Bed

From$1,650

To$1,440

↓ $210

3 Bed

From$2,250

To$2,000

↓ $250

Airway Heights, WAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,290–$1,290/mo

Kelso, WAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,190–$1,190/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Airway Heights, WA

$9,066

Monthly in Kelso, WA

$1,566

Difference

Home Values

Airway Heights

Kelso

$367K

Median Value

$380K

↑ +0.8%

YoY Change

↑ +0.2%

↑ +34.7%

5-Year Change

↑ +26.6%

Homes in Kelso are 4% more expensive than Airway Heights

Calculate payment - Airway Heights Calculate payment - Kelso

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Airway Heights, WA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Washington State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Kelso, WA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Washington State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Airway Heights, WA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.2%

Property Tax:0.9%

Kelso, WA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.2%

Property Tax:0.9%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Airway Heights

Kelso

38 Good

Air Quality

35 Good

76.5%

Good Air Days

85%

90 Moderate

Climate Risk

98 High

💨

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🫨

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

23 days

Heat Days >95°F

9 days

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

23 days

Heat Days >95°F

9 days

Before moving from Airway Heights, WA to Kelso, WA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Kelso, WA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Airway Heights, WA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Airway Heights to Kelso moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Kelso, WA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Airway Heights, WA vs Kelso, WA

How do the cost estimates for Airway Heights, WA and Kelso, WA compare?

Kelso, WA has a modeled overall cost index 29.1% higher than Airway Heights, WA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Airway Heights, WA, the model estimates $168,797 in Kelso, WA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Airway Heights, WA and Kelso, WA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,650/month in Airway Heights, WA and $1,440/month in Kelso, WA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.