salaryRent is lower than in 69% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.1 years of household income. Most homes (82.1%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $51,840 a year. That is $25 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Washington cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Washington. It is number 16 of 192 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Birch Bay?
Share of households by yearly income. 27.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Birch Bay
| Size | Birch Bay | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 2 bedrooms | $938 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,093 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,077 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Birch Bay overall?
Everyday prices in Washington overall are 7% above the U.S. average (index 107.0, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Birch Bay, so the Washington figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Birch Bay
Life in Birch Bay
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Birch Bay?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $2,015 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $477,200 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $47,720 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Birch Bay, WA?
Renting in Birch Bay costs a median of about $1,296 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Washington median is $2,025.
How much do I need to make to live in Birch Bay?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $51,840 a year, or $25 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Birch Bay cheap or expensive?
Birch Bay is rated Cheap: rent takes 16.6% of the typical household income of $93,672. It ranks 16th cheapest of 192 Washington cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Birch Bay?
The median homeowner in Birch Bay pays $3,110 a year in property taxes, about 0.65% of the median home value.
Is Birch Bay 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 Birch Bay?
The median home value in Birch Bay is $477,200, about 5.1 times the typical yearly household income.
10,837 people live in Birch Bay. Numbers are typical (middle) values.