Arlington vs Spokane: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Arlington, VA and Spokane, WA, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricArlington, VASpokane, WA
Population235,845227,922
Median household income$137,387$63,316
Median home value$833,300$286,900
Median rent (/mo)$2,227$1,060

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Arlington, VA and Spokane, WA comes down to what you value most. Spokane has the lower median home value, and Spokane has the lower median rent.

Arlington has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Spokane?
By median home value, Spokane is the cheaper of the two ($286,900 vs $833,300). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Arlington or Spokane?
Median household income is $137,387 in Arlington versus $63,316 in Spokane, per the US Census Bureau.

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