Ellensburg, WA vs Port Angeles, WA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Port Angeles, WA has a modeled overall cost index 40.8% higher than Ellensburg, WA.

Ellensburg, WA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,450 / month
Port Angeles, WA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,200 / 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 Ellensburg, WA and Port Angeles, 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 Ellensburg, WA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $2,577/month in Port Angeles, WA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $180,924 in Port Angeles, WA

Regional cost estimates: Ellensburg, WA uses Tacoma, WA. Port Angeles, WA uses Seattle, WA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 40.8%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$2,577

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$30.9K

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.

Ellensburg, WA

Population:19K

Cost Index:

96.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$447K

Port Angeles, WA

Population:20K

Cost Index:

136.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$439K

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Ellensburg, WA

The Evergreen State

19K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Washington, this city has a population of 19K residents.

💡 Advantage: Washington has no state income tax!

Port Angeles, WA

The Evergreen State

20K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Washington, this city has a population of 20K residents.

💡 Advantage: Washington has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Ellensburg, WA vs Port Angeles, 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	Ellensburg, WA	Port Angeles, WA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,503/mo	$5,125/mo	↑ $2,622more	104.7%
Other	$1,340/mo	$1,493/mo	↑ $152more	11.4%
Transportation	$1,551/mo	$1,435/mo	↓ $117less	7.5%
Groceries	$953/mo	$917/mo	↓ $36.50less	3.8%
Healthcare	$728/mo	$700/mo	↓ $27.87less	3.8%
All Utilities	$425/mo	$408/mo	↓ $16.26less	3.8%

Housing

↑ 104.7%

Ellensburg, WA

$2,503

Port Angeles, WA

$5,125

Difference

$2,622

Other

↑ 11.4%

Ellensburg, WA

$1,340

Port Angeles, WA

$1,493

Difference

$152

Transportation

↓ 7.5%

Ellensburg, WA

$1,551

Port Angeles, WA

$1,435

Difference

$117

less

Groceries

↓ 3.8%

Ellensburg, WA

$953

Port Angeles, WA

$917

Difference

$36.50

less

Healthcare

↓ 3.8%

Ellensburg, WA

$728

Port Angeles, WA

$700

Difference

$27.87

less

All Utilities

↓ 3.8%

Ellensburg, WA

$425

Port Angeles, WA

$408

Difference

$16.26

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,000

To$830

↓ $170

1 Bed

From$1,110

To$920

↓ $190

2 Bed

From$1,450

To$1,200

↓ $250

3 Bed

From$2,020

To$1,670

↓ $350

Ellensburg, WAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,110–$1,110/mo

Port Angeles, WAZIP-level data

1BR range: $920–$920/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 Ellensburg, WA

$10,077

Monthly in Port Angeles, WA

$2,577

Difference

Home Values

Ellensburg

Port Angeles

$447K

Median Value

$439K

↓ -0.8%

YoY Change

↑ +0.3%

↑ +26.2%

5-Year Change

↑ +35.1%

Homes in Port Angeles are 2% less expensive than Ellensburg

Calculate payment - Ellensburg Calculate payment - Port Angeles

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

Ellensburg, 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

Port Angeles, 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

Ellensburg, WA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.2%

Property Tax:0.9%

Port Angeles, 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

Ellensburg

Port Angeles

44 Good

Air Quality

41 Good

72.4%

Good Air Days

69.7%

99 High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🌊🌡🫨

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🫨

▲+2.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

1 days

Heat Days >95°F

2 days

▲+2.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

1 days

Heat Days >95°F

2 days

Before moving from Ellensburg, WA to Port Angeles, WA

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Ellensburg, WA vs Port Angeles, WA

How do the cost estimates for Ellensburg, WA and Port Angeles, WA compare?

Port Angeles, WA has a modeled overall cost index 40.8% higher than Ellensburg, 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 Ellensburg, WA, the model estimates $180,924 in Port Angeles, 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 Ellensburg, WA and Port Angeles, WA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,450/month in Ellensburg, WA and $1,200/month in Port Angeles, 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.