Cost of Living in Puyallup: What It Takes to Live Comfortably

Any article that gives you a single dollar figure for the cost of living is out of date by the time you read it. Prices move. Rates move. Your household is not the average household.

So I am going to do something more useful. I will show you where the money goes in Puyallup, which costs are different here from other places, and how to build a budget from current numbers that will be right for you.

Where the money goes

For most households in the Puget Sound region, spending falls into these categories. The order is roughly by size.

A helpful independent reference is the MIT Living Wage Calculator for Pierce County. It is updated every year and estimates typical annual costs by category for different household sizes. It measures a basic budget, not a comfortable one, so treat its total as a floor.

Housing: the big variable

Housing is where Puyallup differs most from Seattle and the Eastside, and it is the reason many people move here.

What stays true over time

• A comparable home generally costs less here than in King County.
• It generally costs more than in rural Pierce County or farther south.
• Within the area, price follows age, size, lot, condition, and location more than the city name.

What your housing cost includes

1. Principal and interest on the loan, which depends on price, down payment, and the interest rate on the day you lock.
2. Property tax. In this area the total has generally run around 1% of assessed value per year, somewhat more or less depending on the tax code area. Look up the actual bill for any home in the county's parcel search.
3. Homeowners insurance. Washington's premiums are moderate by national standards. Flood and earthquake coverage are separate.
4. Mortgage insurance, if your down payment is under 20% on a conventional loan, or as required by the loan type.
5. Association dues, in most newer subdivisions and all condos.

Lenders call the first four PITI. It is the number to plan around, not the price.

For current home values, check the Zillow home value index for Puyallup and the Northwest MLS monthly market reports. For today's mortgage rates, Freddie Mac publishes a weekly average.

Renting. Rents also run below Seattle's. A detached house rents for noticeably more than an apartment. I cover how to find current figures in my post on what it costs to rent a house in Puyallup.

Transportation: the cost people underestimate

Puyallup is a driving town. Outside downtown, nearly every errand needs a car, and most households with two working adults have two vehicles.

What that adds up to:

• Car payments or the cost of replacing vehicles
• Insurance
• Fuel, which is priced higher in Washington than in most states
• Maintenance and tires
• Tolls and parking, depending on your route
• Licensing fees

The longer your commute, the more this category grows. A home that is cheaper because it is far out can give back the savings in fuel and time.

The train. If your job is near a Sounder station, a transit pass replaces a large share of this. Many employers subsidize passes. For a Seattle commuter, the train can make a one-car or two-modest-car household workable.

Childcare

If you have children under school age, childcare may be your second-largest expense after housing, and for two children it can exceed it.

This is a regional reality, not a Puyallup one. Costs here are generally lower than in Seattle and still high by national standards. Openings, especially for infants, can be hard to find.

Price it before you set a housing budget. Search licensed providers on the state's Child Care Check site and call for current rates. Washington also has subsidy programs for qualifying households.

Once children are in school, the cost shifts to before- and after-school care, summer camps, and activities.

Food

Grocery prices in Puyallup match the rest of the Puget Sound region, which runs above the national average. A few things help:

• Several discount and warehouse grocery options are local.
• Washington does not charge sales tax on most groceries.
• The farmers market and valley farm stands are good for produce in season.

Restaurant meals are taxed and cost roughly what they do across the metro area.

Taxes

Newcomers need to recalibrate, because Washington's tax mix is unusual.

No state tax on wages. For a household moving from a state with an income tax, that is a real raise in take-home pay.

Sales tax on most purchases. The combined state and local rate applies to goods, restaurant meals, and many services. Most groceries and prescription drugs are exempt. The rate varies by location. Use the state's lookup tool for an exact address.

Property tax. Billed by the county, due in two halves. Voter-approved school and fire levies can raise it.

Vehicle fees. Annual registration includes several taxes and fees.

Fuel tax. Among the higher state rates.

The effect depends on how you spend. Households that earn well and spend modestly tend to come out ahead here. Households that spend most of what they earn on taxable goods feel the sales tax more.

This is general information. For your own situation, talk to a tax professional.

Utilities

A typical single-family home has these bills:

• Electricity, from Puget Sound Energy in most of the area
• Natural gas, if the home uses it
• Water
• Sewer, or the periodic cost of maintaining a septic system
• Stormwater, billed by the city or included as a county fee
• Garbage and recycling
• Internet and phones

The mild climate keeps heating and cooling moderate compared with colder or hotter regions. The biggest swings come from the heating system type, the home's age and insulation, and household size.

I break this down, including how city sewer bills are calculated, in my post on budgeting for utilities in Puyallup.

Healthcare

Costs depend mostly on your insurance. What the location adds is access: a hospital in town, many clinics, and the larger Tacoma hospital systems close by. You will not spend much on travel for care.

What "comfortable" means

Comfortable is personal, but a common yardstick helps. One widely used guideline splits take-home pay like this:

If your needs fit in about half of your take-home pay, you have room for the rest of life. If they take 70%, you can live here, but it will feel tight.

Lenders use a different measure. They compare your housing payment and other debts with your gross income. I explain that in my post on how much income a family needs to live in Puyallup.

How Puyallup compares

General patterns that have held for years:

In other words, Puyallup is a value within an expensive region. It is not a low-cost place in absolute terms.

Build your own budget

Here is a worksheet. Fill it with current numbers.

Add it up and compare it with your take-home pay. If you are relocating for a job, run it with the new salary and with Washington's tax treatment.

Costs specific to owning here

A few items catch newcomers.

• Maintenance in a wet climate. Roofs, gutters, paint, and drainage need steady attention. A common planning figure is to set aside about 1% of the home's value per year.
• Septic. Inspections and pumping on a schedule, if you are not on sewer.
• Yard care. Things grow fast.
• Coverage a standard policy leaves out. Flood, earthquake, and mudflow.
• Escrow adjustments. When taxes or insurance rise, the mortgage payment follows.

I list more in my post on the hidden costs of buying a home in Puyallup.

Ways residents keep costs down

• Living close to work or the train to cut transportation
• Choosing a home with a newer roof and efficient heating
• Using Puget Sound Energy rebates for heat pumps and other upgrades
• Checking eligibility for property tax programs for seniors and disabled persons
• Sharing childcare or adjusting work schedules
• Using free amenities: parks, trails, the library, community events

Costs that change with where you live in the area

The same household can have different monthly costs in different parts of Puyallup.

• Downtown and the valley: lower transportation costs if you walk and take the train, possibly higher heating in an older home, and flood insurance in mapped zones.
• Lower South Hill: short drives to the freeway and to services, moderate utility costs, and usually no association dues.
• Upper South Hill: more driving, association dues in many subdivisions, lower maintenance on newer homes.
• Rural edges: the most driving, septic and well upkeep, and more land to maintain.

When you compare homes, add up the monthly total for each location. The home with the lowest price is not always the one with the lowest cost of living.

The question behind the question

When people ask what it costs to live comfortably here, they are usually asking whether they can afford a specific kind of life: a certain house, a certain commute, room for savings and some fun.

That is answerable. Give me your monthly number and what matters to you, and I can show you which parts of the area and which types of homes fit. Sometimes the answer is a smaller house closer in. Sometimes it is a bigger one farther out. Sometimes it is renting for a year. All of those are fine outcomes.

Frequently asked questions

Is Puyallup expensive to live in?

Puyallup is less expensive than Seattle and the Eastside for housing, and similar to the rest of the Puget Sound region for most other costs. It is more expensive than the national average.

What is the biggest expense of living in Puyallup?

Housing is the largest for most households. Transportation is usually second, and childcare can be second or even first for households with young children.

Does Washington have income tax?

Washington does not tax wages. It relies on sales tax, property tax, and other taxes and fees. Consult a tax professional about your situation.

How much should I budget for home maintenance in Puyallup?

A common planning figure is about 1% of the home's value per year. The wet climate makes roofs, gutters, drainage, and exterior paint regular expenses.

Is it cheaper to live in Puyallup or Seattle?

Housing is generally cheaper in Puyallup. Other costs are similar, and commuting costs may be higher if you work in Seattle.

Related reading

• How Much Income Does a Family Need to Live in Puyallup?
• What Kind of Home Can You Buy in Puyallup on Your Budget?
• How Much to Budget for Utilities in Puyallup
• How Much Are Property Taxes in Puyallup?

Equal Housing Opportunity. Austin Robertson, License # 21036843, Austin Robertson and Allena Robertson Real Estate Brokers, regulated by the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL). This article is general information only. It is not legal, tax, insurance, lending, or construction advice, and it is not an appraisal of any property. Robertson & Co. supports fair housing and does not describe or recommend neighborhoods based on who lives there. Costs, rates, and rules change. Confirm the details with the sources linked above before you act.