salaryRent is higher than in 66% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.9 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 32.1 minutes each way.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $78,040 a year. That is $38 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 85 of 192 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Federal Way?
Share of households by yearly income. 30.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Federal Way
| Size | Federal Way | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,696 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,535 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,948 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,463 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,793 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Federal Way 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 Federal Way, so the Washington figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Federal Way
Life in Federal Way
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Federal Way?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,885 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $552,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $55,280 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Federal Way, WA?
Renting in Federal Way costs a median of about $1,951 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Washington median is $2,025.
How much do I need to make to live in Federal Way?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $78,040 a year, or $38 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Federal Way cheap or expensive?
Federal Way is rated OK: rent takes 25.0% of the typical household income of $93,731. It ranks 85th cheapest of 192 Washington cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Federal Way?
The median homeowner in Federal Way pays $4,706 a year in property taxes, about 0.85% of the median home value.
Is Federal Way 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 Federal Way?
The median home value in Federal Way is $552,800, about 5.9 times the typical yearly household income.
99,493 people live in Federal Way. Numbers are typical (middle) values.