States › Washington › Arlington

Is Arlington, WA expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 27 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$2,14322% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$95,157about $7,930/month · 9% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$538,80062% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 75% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.7 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $85,720 a year. That is $41 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Washington cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Washington. It is number 111 of 192 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Arlington
$2,143
Five Corners
$2,441
Covington
$2,367
Mill Creek
$2,339
Ellensburg
$1,555
Mukilteo
$2,346
Tukwila
$1,831

How much do households earn in Arlington?

Under $25k
11.0%
$25k–50k
16.1%
$50k–100k
32.5%
$100k–150k
24.3%
$150k+
11.6%

Share of households by yearly income. 35.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Arlington

SizeArlingtonU.S. average
Studio$1,723$1,338
1 bedroom$1,202$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,805$1,509
3 bedrooms$2,519$1,698
4 bedrooms$3,446$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Arlington overall?

Everyday prices in Washington overall are 7% above the U.S. average (index 107.0, U.S. = 100).

Housing
126
Goods (food, clothes…)
104
Utilities
93
Other services
104
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Arlington, so the Washington figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Arlington

🏛️ Property tax$3,534a year · 0.66% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$110a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Arlington

Commute to work29.9 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree20.8%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home62.2%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line12.7%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4.2%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Arlington?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,596 a month less.

Renting
$2,143
Owning
$3,739

Owning assumes a typical $538,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $53,880 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Arlington, WA?

Renting in Arlington costs a median of about $2,143 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Washington median is $2,025.

How much do I need to make to live in Arlington?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $85,720 a year, or $41 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Arlington cheap or expensive?

Arlington is rated OK: rent takes 27.0% of the typical household income of $95,157. It ranks 111th cheapest of 192 Washington cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Arlington?

The median homeowner in Arlington pays $3,534 a year in property taxes, about 0.66% of the median home value.

Is Arlington more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Washington are 7% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Arlington?

The median home value in Arlington is $538,800, about 5.7 times the typical yearly household income.

21,095 people live in Arlington. Numbers are typical (middle) values.