Salem, OR vs Kennewick, WA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Kennewick, WA has a modeled overall cost index 21.7% lower than Salem, OR.

Salem, OR · modeled 2BR rent: $1,575 / month
Kennewick, WA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,595 / 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 Salem, OR and Kennewick, 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 Salem, OR

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,252/month in Kennewick, WA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $134,973 in Kennewick, WA

Regional cost estimates: Salem, OR uses Portland, OR. Kennewick, WA uses Spokane, WA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 21.7%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,252

Savings

Annual Impact

$15.0K

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.

Salem, OR

Population:177K

Cost Index:

120.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$471K

Kennewick, WA

Population:85K

Cost Index:

94.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$392K

Planning the move to Kennewick?

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

Salem, OR

The Beaver State

177K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Oregon, this city has a population of 177K residents.

Kennewick, WA

The Evergreen State

85K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Washington, this city has a population of 85K residents.

💡 Advantage: Washington has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Salem, OR vs Kennewick, 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	Salem, OR	Kennewick, WA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,122/mo	$1,644/mo	↓ $1,478less	47.3%
Transportation	$1,269/mo	$1,499/mo	↑ $230more	18.1%
Other	$1,420/mo	$1,216/mo	↓ $203less	14.3%
Healthcare	$507/mo	$653/mo	↑ $145more	28.6%
Groceries	$818/mo	$855/mo	↑ $36.44more	4.5%
All Utilities	$364/mo	$381/mo	↑ $17.01more	4.7%

Housing

↓ 47.3%

Salem, OR

$3,122

Kennewick, WA

$1,644

Difference

$1,478

less

Transportation

↑ 18.1%

Salem, OR

$1,269

Kennewick, WA

$1,499

Difference

$230

Other

↓ 14.3%

Salem, OR

$1,420

Kennewick, WA

$1,216

Difference

$203

less

Healthcare

↑ 28.6%

Salem, OR

$507

Kennewick, WA

$653

Difference

$145

Groceries

↑ 4.5%

Salem, OR

$818

Kennewick, WA

$855

Difference

$36.44

All Utilities

↑ 4.7%

Salem, OR

$364

Kennewick, WA

$381

Difference

$17.01

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,195

To$1,160

↓ $35.00

1 Bed

From$1,210

To$1,315

↑ $105

2 Bed

From$1,575

To$1,595

↑ $20.00

3 Bed

From$2,180

To$2,150

↓ $30.00

Salem, ORZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,150–$1,580/mo

Kennewick, WAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,240–$1,390/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 Salem, OR

$6,248

Monthly in Kennewick, WA

$1,252

Difference

Home Values

Salem

Kennewick

$471K

Median Value

$392K

↑ +0.3%

YoY Change

↑ +26.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +28.3%

$364K - $488K

Price Range

$362K - $423K

Homes in Kennewick are 17% less expensive than Salem

Calculate payment - Salem Calculate payment - Kennewick

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $15.5K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$1,293

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

10.3%

Rate difference

Salem, 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

Kennewick, 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

Salem, OR Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%

Property Tax:0.9%

Kennewick, 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

Salem

Kennewick

35 Good

Air Quality

38 Good

85%

Good Air Days

76.5%

98 High

Climate Risk

90 Moderate

🌊🌡🫨

Top Hazards

💨

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

9 days

Heat Days >95°F

23 days

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

9 days

Heat Days >95°F

23 days

Before moving from Salem, OR to Kennewick, WA

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Salem, OR vs Kennewick, WA

How do the cost estimates for Salem, OR and Kennewick, WA compare?

Kennewick, WA has a modeled overall cost index 21.7% lower than Salem, OR. 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 Salem, OR, the model estimates $134,973 in Kennewick, 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 Salem, OR and Kennewick, WA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,575/month in Salem, OR and $1,595/month in Kennewick, 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.

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