Kettle Falls, WA vs Union, OR: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Union, OR has a modeled overall cost index 4.7% lower than Kettle Falls, WA.

Kettle Falls, WA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,130 / month
Union, OR · modeled 2BR rent: $1,180 / 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 Kettle Falls, WA and Union, OR 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 Kettle Falls, WA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $962/month in Union, OR

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $138,459 in Union, OR

Regional cost estimates: Kettle Falls, WA uses Spokane, WA. Union, OR uses Boise, ID. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 4.7%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$962

Savings

Annual Impact

$11.5K

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.

Kettle Falls, WA

Population:2K

Cost Index:

86.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$319K

Union, OR

Population:2K

Cost Index:

82.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$289K

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Kettle Falls, WA

The Evergreen State

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Washington, this city has a population of 2K residents.

💡 Advantage: Washington has no state income tax!

Union, OR

The Beaver State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Oregon, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Kettle Falls, WA vs Union, OR

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	Kettle Falls, WA	Union, OR	Difference	Change
Transportation	$1,776/mo	$1,059/mo	↓ $717less	40.4%
Healthcare	$808/mo	$584/mo	↓ $224less	27.7%
Housing	$1,947/mo	$2,149/mo	↑ $203more	10.4%
Groceries	$1,058/mo	$888/mo	↓ $171less	16.1%
All Utilities	$471/mo	$441/mo	↓ $30.70less	6.5%
Other	$1,440/mo	$1,418/mo	↓ $22.33less	1.6%

Transportation

↓ 40.4%

Kettle Falls, WA

$1,776

Union, OR

$1,059

Difference

$717

less

Healthcare

↓ 27.7%

Kettle Falls, WA

$808

Union, OR

$584

Difference

$224

less

Housing

↑ 10.4%

Kettle Falls, WA

$1,947

Union, OR

$2,149

Difference

$203

Groceries

↓ 16.1%

Kettle Falls, WA

$1,058

Union, OR

$888

Difference

$171

less

All Utilities

↓ 6.5%

Kettle Falls, WA

$471

Union, OR

$441

Difference

$30.70

less

Other

↓ 1.6%

Kettle Falls, WA

$1,440

Union, OR

$1,418

Difference

$22.33

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$860

To$810

↓ $50.00

1 Bed

From$880

To$950

↑ $70.00

2 Bed

From$1,130

To$1,180

↑ $50.00

3 Bed

From$1,570

To$1,640

↑ $70.00

Kettle Falls, WAZIP-level data

1BR range: $880–$880/mo

Union, ORZIP-level data

1BR range: $950–$950/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 Kettle Falls, WA

$6,538

Monthly in Union, OR

$962

Difference

Home Values

Kettle Falls

Union

$319K

Median Value

$289K

↑ +3%

YoY Change

↑ +8%

↑ +25.6%

5-Year Change

↑ +45.9%

Homes in Union are 9% less expensive than Kettle Falls

Calculate payment - Kettle Falls Calculate payment - Union

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $15.5K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$1,293

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

10.3%

Rate difference

Kettle Falls, 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

Union, OR

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Oregon State Tax

Effective: 10.3%

$15.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 35.0%

$52.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,123/month

$97.5K

Additional Tax Information

Kettle Falls, WA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.2%

Property Tax:0.9%

Union, OR Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%

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

Kettle Falls

Union

38 Good

Air Quality

44 Good

76.5%

Good Air Days

62.8%

90 Moderate

Climate Risk

88 Moderate

💨

Top Hazards

🔥💨

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

23 days

Heat Days >95°F

49 days

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

23 days

Heat Days >95°F

49 days

Before moving from Kettle Falls, WA to Union, OR

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Union, OR for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Kettle Falls, 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 Kettle Falls to Union moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Kettle Falls, WA vs Union, OR

How do the cost estimates for Kettle Falls, WA and Union, OR compare?

Union, OR has a modeled overall cost index 4.7% lower than Kettle Falls, 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 Kettle Falls, WA, the model estimates $138,459 in Union, OR. 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 Kettle Falls, WA and Union, OR?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,130/month in Kettle Falls, WA and $1,180/month in Union, OR. 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.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Washington and Oregon on TaxTakeHome.com