CostIndexUSA

Aurora, CO vs Olympia, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Aurora
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableWA
Olympia
103.7
overall index
$2,025/mo rent

Olympia is slightly cheaper than Aurora — 2.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Aurora, you would need $78,400 in Olympia. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing20.6%
Aurora
146.9
Olympia
116.7
🛒 Groceries+4.0%
Aurora
101
Olympia
105
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Aurora
104.4
Olympia
104.4
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Aurora
94.5
Olympia
94.5
Utilities+4.3%
Aurora
87.9
Olympia
91.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Aurora to see what you'd need to earn in Olympia to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Olympia, WA
$78,400
$1,600 less needed in Olympia

Formula: salary × (103.7 ÷ 105.8) = salary × 0.9802. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Aurora, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Olympia, WA

Median Home Price
$518,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,025
Housing Index
116.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.3×

Aurora has 20.6% lower housing costs compared to Olympia.

Income & Job Market

Aurora, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
366,623
Top Industries
HealthcareAerospaceTechnologyGovernmentRetail

Olympia, WA

Median Household Income
$93,200
Per Capita Income
$53,100
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
53,532
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationRetailManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Aurora, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Olympia, WA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.