Olympia, WA vs Salem, OR: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Salem, OR and Olympia, WA are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Olympia works out to about $75,000 in Salem, before taxes.
- Housing is 5.4% lower in Salem, goods 0.2% higher and other services 0.8% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,646 a month in Salem and $2,043 in Olympia, $4,764 a year less in Salem (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $447,000 in Salem and $521,000 in Olympia.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Salem was 2.5% less expensive than Olympia.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Olympia and Salem
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Olympia, WA
- Salem, OR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Olympia, WA | Salem, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.7 | 103.6 |
| Goods | 105.0 | 105.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 116.7 | 110.3 |
| Utilities | 91.7 | 104.7 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 100.3 |
| Category | Olympia | Salem | Salem vs Olympia |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.7 | 103.6 | 0.0% |
| Goods | 105.0 | 105.3 | +0.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 116.7 | 110.3 | −5.4% |
| Utilities | 91.7 | 104.7 | +14.2% |
| Other services | 99.5 | 100.3 | +0.8% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,043 | $1,646 | −19.4% |
| Typical home value | $521,000 | $447,000 | −14.2% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Olympia | $75,000 | $75,000 | 0.0% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Olympia and Salem has narrowed since 2008: 11.2 points then, 0.0 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Olympia, WA
- Salem, OR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Olympia, WA | Salem, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 105.4 | 94.1 |
| 2009 | 104.1 | 99.0 |
| 2010 | 102.9 | 98.9 |
| 2011 | 105.0 | 98.2 |
| 2012 | 101.3 | 101.1 |
| 2013 | 101.9 | 99.3 |
| 2014 | 104.8 | 97.7 |
| 2015 | 104.1 | 98.9 |
| 2016 | 106.0 | 97.1 |
| 2017 | 106.9 | 99.1 |
| 2018 | 104.8 | 102.4 |
| 2019 | 104.5 | 101.8 |
| 2020 | 101.9 | 100.9 |
| 2021 | 103.5 | 102.0 |
| 2022 | 107.5 | 104.8 |
| 2023 | 106.4 | 102.5 |
| 2024 | 103.7 | 103.6 |
Goods
- Olympia, WA
- Salem, OR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Olympia, WA | Salem, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 108.3 | 92.7 |
| 2009 | 106.6 | 102.3 |
| 2010 | 105.3 | 100.3 |
| 2011 | 106.1 | 100.6 |
| 2012 | 101.1 | 101.9 |
| 2013 | 102.8 | 99.6 |
| 2014 | 104.6 | 100.2 |
| 2015 | 105.8 | 98.4 |
| 2016 | 104.4 | 100.2 |
| 2017 | 108.4 | 99.9 |
| 2018 | 104.8 | 104.6 |
| 2019 | 104.7 | 104.5 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 104.6 |
| 2021 | 106.6 | 106.5 |
| 2022 | 109.4 | 109.1 |
| 2023 | 104.9 | 104.8 |
| 2024 | 105.0 | 105.3 |
Housing (rents)
- Olympia, WA
- Salem, OR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Olympia, WA | Salem, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 110.9 | 82.5 |
| 2009 | 106.2 | 93.1 |
| 2010 | 109.5 | 95.5 |
| 2011 | 125.3 | 90.9 |
| 2012 | 103.1 | 96.3 |
| 2013 | 108.2 | 92.4 |
| 2014 | 117.1 | 89.1 |
| 2015 | 111.3 | 90.2 |
| 2016 | 114.0 | 91.2 |
| 2017 | 113.1 | 95.0 |
| 2018 | 113.4 | 97.6 |
| 2019 | 116.8 | 98.1 |
| 2020 | 103.3 | 96.5 |
| 2021 | 115.4 | 101.8 |
| 2022 | 120.3 | 99.6 |
| 2023 | 125.9 | 95.7 |
| 2024 | 116.7 | 110.3 |
Utilities
- Olympia, WA
- Salem, OR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Olympia, WA | Salem, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 80.9 | 90.1 |
| 2009 | 82.5 | 94.6 |
| 2010 | 83.9 | 87.3 |
| 2011 | 86.0 | 93.9 |
| 2012 | 89.0 | 97.5 |
| 2013 | 92.9 | 90.3 |
| 2014 | 92.7 | 98.4 |
| 2015 | 95.7 | 104.2 |
| 2016 | 92.4 | 97.1 |
| 2017 | 92.9 | 97.7 |
| 2018 | 85.4 | 92.1 |
| 2019 | 86.7 | 95.5 |
| 2020 | 87.4 | 94.9 |
| 2021 | 89.1 | 96.0 |
| 2022 | 83.6 | 89.8 |
| 2023 | 81.9 | 90.1 |
| 2024 | 91.7 | 104.7 |
Other services
- Olympia, WA
- Salem, OR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Olympia, WA | Salem, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 103.6 | 100.2 |
| 2009 | 103.3 | 99.4 |
| 2010 | 100.7 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| 2012 | 101.7 | 102.7 |
| 2013 | 100.0 | 102.6 |
| 2014 | 102.2 | 99.1 |
| 2015 | 101.4 | 102.2 |
| 2016 | 105.2 | 97.1 |
| 2017 | 105.0 | 100.0 |
| 2018 | 103.4 | 103.4 |
| 2019 | 101.6 | 101.8 |
| 2020 | 100.7 | 100.4 |
| 2021 | 98.8 | 99.1 |
| 2022 | 103.8 | 104.5 |
| 2023 | 102.6 | 104.2 |
| 2024 | 99.5 | 100.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,646 in Salem vs $2,043 in Olympia
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Olympia, WA
- Salem, OR
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Olympia, WA | Salem, OR | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,048 | $840 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,059 | $870 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,075 | $909 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,077 | $919 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,087 | $946 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,126 | $978 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,141 | $1,012 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,149 | $1,012 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,177 | $1,047 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,218 | $1,073 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,231 | $1,086 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,238 | $1,081 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,264 | $1,106 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,302 | $1,120 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,309 | $1,145 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,318 | $1,133 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,340 | $1,152 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,377 | $1,176 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,388 | $1,190 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,394 | $1,174 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,430 | $1,208 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,442 | $1,211 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,515 | $1,238 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,517 | $1,257 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,583 | $1,291 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,642 | $1,339 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,714 | $1,405 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,743 | $1,418 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,771 | $1,438 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,831 | $1,509 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,831 | $1,570 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,789 | $1,553 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,813 | $1,566 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,857 | $1,575 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,871 | $1,600 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,861 | $1,592 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,889 | $1,583 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,916 | $1,601 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,918 | $1,624 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,905 | $1,611 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,916 | $1,614 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,978 | $1,639 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,993 | $1,648 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,987 | $1,634 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,987 | $1,633 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,026 | $1,640 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,043 | $1,646 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $447,000 in Salem vs $521,000 in Olympia
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Olympia, WA
- Salem, OR
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Olympia, WA | Salem, OR | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $238K | $199K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $241K | $203K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $245K | $209K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $251K | $216K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $257K | $223K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $262K | $229K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $267K | $236K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $273K | $244K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $281K | $250K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $286K | $258K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $291K | $265K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $297K | $271K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $304K | $280K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $311K | $288K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $320K | $296K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $324K | $301K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $328K | $306K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $332K | $310K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $338K | $312K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $347K | $316K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $358K | $324K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $367K | $328K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $380K | $334K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $403K | $350K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $428K | $371K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $455K | $389K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $470K | $403K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $478K | $414K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $501K | $431K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $525K | $447K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $515K | $443K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $501K | $436K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $492K | $433K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $496K | $434K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $503K | $438K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $506K | $438K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $511K | $441K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $519K | $444K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $520K | $444K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $525K | $446K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $525K | $447K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $521K | $445K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $521K | $445K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $526K | $448K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $527K | $449K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $522K | $447K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $521K | $447K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.