Bothell, WA vs Mill Creek, WA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Mill Creek, WA has a modeled overall cost index 2.0% lower than Bothell, WA.

Bothell, WA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,865 / month
Mill Creek, WA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,690 / 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 Bothell, WA and Mill Creek, 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 Bothell, WA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $139/month in Mill Creek, WA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,336 in Mill Creek, WA

Regional cost estimates: Bothell, WA uses Seattle, WA. Mill Creek, WA uses Seattle, WA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 2.0%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$139

Savings

Annual Impact

$1.7K

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.

Bothell, WA

Population:50K

Cost Index:

161.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.07M

Mill Creek, WA

Population:21K

Cost Index:

158.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$975K

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Bothell, WA

The Evergreen State

50K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Washington, this city has a population of 50K residents.

💡 Advantage: Washington has no state income tax!

Mill Creek, WA

The Evergreen State

21K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Washington, this city has a population of 21K residents.

💡 Advantage: Washington has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Bothell, WA vs Mill Creek, 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	Bothell, WA	Mill Creek, WA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,879/mo	$3,800/mo	↓ $79.11less	2.0%
Other	$1,130/mo	$1,107/mo	↓ $23.04less	2.0%
Transportation	$1,086/mo	$1,064/mo	↓ $22.15less	2.0%
Groceries	$636/mo	$630/mo	↓ $6.52less	1.0%
Healthcare	$486/mo	$481/mo	↓ $4.98less	1.0%
All Utilities	$283/mo	$281/mo	↓ $2.91less	1.0%

Housing

↓ 2.0%

Bothell, WA

$3,879

Mill Creek, WA

$3,800

Difference

$79.11

less

Other

↓ 2.0%

Bothell, WA

$1,130

Mill Creek, WA

$1,107

Difference

$23.04

less

Transportation

↓ 2.0%

Bothell, WA

$1,086

Mill Creek, WA

$1,064

Difference

$22.15

less

Groceries

↓ 1.0%

Bothell, WA

$636

Mill Creek, WA

$630

Difference

$6.52

less

Healthcare

↓ 1.0%

Bothell, WA

$486

Mill Creek, WA

$481

Difference

$4.98

less

All Utilities

↓ 1.0%

Bothell, WA

$283

Mill Creek, WA

$281

Difference

$2.91

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,375

To$2,230

↓ $145

1 Bed

From$2,460

To$2,310

↓ $150

2 Bed

From$2,865

To$2,690

↓ $175

3 Bed

From$3,745

To$3,520

↓ $225

Bothell, WAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,320–$2,600/mo

Mill Creek, WAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,310–$2,310/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 Bothell, WA

$7,361

Monthly in Mill Creek, WA

$139

Difference

Home Values

Bothell

Mill Creek

$1.07M

Median Value

$975K

↓ -2.1%

YoY Change

↓ -2.1%

↑ +45.4%

5-Year Change

↑ +49.6%

$1.02M - $1.12M

Price Range

$975K

Homes in Mill Creek are 9% less expensive than Bothell

Calculate payment - Bothell Calculate payment - Mill Creek

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

Bothell, 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

Mill Creek, 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

Bothell, WA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.2%

Property Tax:0.9%

Mill Creek, 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

Bothell

Mill Creek

41 Good

Air Quality

41 Good

69.7%

Good Air Days

69.7%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🌊🌡🫨

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🫨

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

2 days

Heat Days >95°F

2 days

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

2 days

Heat Days >95°F

2 days

Before moving from Bothell, WA to Mill Creek, WA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Mill Creek, WA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Bothell, 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 Bothell to Mill Creek moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Bothell, WA vs Mill Creek, WA

How do the cost estimates for Bothell, WA and Mill Creek, WA compare?

Mill Creek, WA has a modeled overall cost index 2.0% lower than Bothell, 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 Bothell, WA, the model estimates $148,336 in Mill Creek, 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 Bothell, WA and Mill Creek, WA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,865/month in Bothell, WA and $2,690/month in Mill Creek, 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.