CostIndexUSA

Modesto, CA vs Wenatchee, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostCA
Modesto
104.1
overall index
$2,100/mo rent
WA
Wenatchee
103.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent

Modesto and Wenatchee have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+6.0%
Modesto
108.5
Wenatchee
115
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Modesto
105.2
Wenatchee
105
🚗 Transportation0.9%
Modesto
105.3
Wenatchee
104.4
🏥 Healthcare0.8%
Modesto
95.3
Wenatchee
94.5
Utilities33.9%
Modesto
152.3
Wenatchee
100.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wenatchee, WA
$79,800
$200 less needed in Wenatchee

Formula: salary × (103.9 ÷ 104.1) = salary × 0.9981. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Modesto, CA

Median Home Price
$457,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,100
Housing Index
108.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.1×

Wenatchee, WA

Median Home Price
$503,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,800
Housing Index
115
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.3×

Wenatchee has 6.0% higher housing costs compared to Modesto.

Income & Job Market

Modesto, CA

Median Household Income
$82,800
Per Capita Income
$47,200
Unemployment Rate
6.6%
Population
218,464
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailEducation

Wenatchee, WA

Median Household Income
$73,600
Per Capita Income
$42,000
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
33,621
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareTourismManufacturingRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Modesto, CA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Wenatchee, WA
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.