Palouse, WA vs Kettle Falls, WA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Kettle Falls, WA has a modeled overall cost index 0.8% higher than Palouse, WA.

Palouse, WA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,060 / month
Kettle Falls, WA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,130 / 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓

Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Palouse, WA and Kettle Falls, 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 Palouse, WA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $48.25/month in Kettle Falls, WA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,579 in Kettle Falls, WA

Regional cost estimates: Palouse, WA uses Spokane, WA. Kettle Falls, WA uses Spokane, WA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 0.8%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$48.25

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$579

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.

Palouse, WA

Population:1K

Cost Index:

85.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$332K

Kettle Falls, WA

Population:2K

Cost Index:

86.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$319K

Planning the move to Kettle Falls?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Palouse, WA

The Evergreen State

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Washington, this city has a population of 1K residents.

💡 Advantage: Washington has no state income tax!

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!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Palouse, WA vs Kettle Falls, 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	Palouse, WA	Kettle Falls, WA	Difference	Change
Housing	$1,944/mo	$1,959/mo	↑ $14.83more	0.8%
Transportation	$1,774/mo	$1,787/mo	↑ $13.53more	0.8%
Other	$1,439/mo	$1,449/mo	↑ $10.97more	0.8%
Groceries	$1,061/mo	$1,065/mo	↑ $4.04more	0.4%
Healthcare	$810/mo	$813/mo	↑ $3.08more	0.4%
All Utilities	$473/mo	$475/mo	↑ $1.80more	0.4%

Housing

↑ 0.8%

Palouse, WA

$1,944

Kettle Falls, WA

$1,959

Difference

$14.83

Transportation

↑ 0.8%

Palouse, WA

$1,774

Kettle Falls, WA

$1,787

Difference

$13.53

Other

↑ 0.8%

Palouse, WA

$1,439

Kettle Falls, WA

$1,449

Difference

$10.97

Groceries

↑ 0.4%

Palouse, WA

$1,061

Kettle Falls, WA

$1,065

Difference

$4.04

Healthcare

↑ 0.4%

Palouse, WA

$810

Kettle Falls, WA

$813

Difference

$3.08

All Utilities

↑ 0.4%

Palouse, WA

$473

Kettle Falls, WA

$475

Difference

$1.80

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$720

To$860

↑ $140

1 Bed

From$810

To$880

↑ $70.00

2 Bed

From$1,060

To$1,130

↑ $70.00

3 Bed

From$1,480

To$1,570

↑ $90.00

Palouse, WAZIP-level data

1BR range: $810–$810/mo

Kettle Falls, WAZIP-level data

1BR range: $880–$880/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 Palouse, WA

$7,548

Monthly in Kettle Falls, WA

$48.25

Difference

Home Values

Palouse

Kettle Falls

$332K

Median Value

$319K

↑ +0.2%

YoY Change

↑ +3%

↑ +29.8%

5-Year Change

↑ +25.6%

Homes in Kettle Falls are 4% less expensive than Palouse

Calculate payment - Palouse Calculate payment - Kettle Falls

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

Palouse, 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

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

Additional Tax Information

Palouse, WA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.2%

Property Tax:0.9%

Kettle Falls, 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

Palouse

Kettle Falls

38 Good

Air Quality

38 Good

76.5%

Good Air Days

76.5%

90 Moderate

Climate Risk

90 Moderate

💨

Top Hazards

💨

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

23 days

Heat Days >95°F

23 days

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

23 days

Heat Days >95°F

23 days

Before moving from Palouse, WA to Kettle Falls, WA

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Palouse, WA vs Kettle Falls, WA

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

Kettle Falls, WA has a modeled overall cost index 0.8% higher than Palouse, 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 Palouse, WA, the model estimates $150,579 in Kettle Falls, 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 Palouse, WA and Kettle Falls, WA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,060/month in Palouse, WA and $1,130/month in Kettle Falls, 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.