CostIndexUSA

Olympia, WA vs Worcester, MA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Olympia
103.7
overall index
$2,025/mo rent
More AffordableMA
Worcester
102.5
overall index
$2,075/mo rent

Worcester is slightly cheaper than Olympia — 1.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Olympia, you would need $79,100 in Worcester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing3.2%
Olympia
116.7
Worcester
113
🛒 Groceries7.6%
Olympia
105
Worcester
97
🚗 Transportation+1.8%
Olympia
104.4
Worcester
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.7%
Olympia
94.5
Worcester
96.1
Utilities+69.2%
Olympia
91.7
Worcester
155.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Worcester, MA
$79,100
$900 less needed in Worcester

Formula: salary × (102.5 ÷ 103.7) = salary × 0.9884. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Olympia, WA

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

Worcester, MA

Median Home Price
$461,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,075
Housing Index
113
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Olympia has 3.2% lower housing costs compared to Worcester.

Income & Job Market

Olympia, WA

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

Worcester, MA

Median Household Income
$94,100
Per Capita Income
$53,600
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
206,518
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingFinanceTechnology

Affordability at a Glance

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

Olympia, WA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Worcester, MA
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.