Washington Roundtable

Washington now sits squarely among the most expensive states in the nation—and that’s a reality felt every day across the state.

Over the past decade, costs for essentials like housing, groceries, and transportation have risen 50% or more, reshaping how people live, work, and spend. As highlighted in FOX 13’s The Brief recently, these pressures may also be contributing to more people deciding to leave Washington for lower-cost states.

Thank you to FOX 13 for spotlighting this new research and the real impacts of rising affordability pressures across the state. https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/study-washington-5th-most-expensive-country

(FOX 13 Seattle)

Study finds WA is 5th most expensive place to live in country A new study shows Washington state is the fifth most expensive place to live in the nation, and it's getting harder for people to make the numbers work.

In a recent Puget Sound Business Journal interview, Washington Roundtable board member Mike Warjone shared how Port Blakely is sharpening its focus on forestry as its core business, building on a 160-year legacy in the Pacific Northwest.

We appreciate Port Blakely’s leadership and Mike’s continued commitment to ensuring forestry remains a force for economic vitality and environmental health in Washington state.

New Port Blakely CEO on why the company is sharpening its focus on forestry - Puget Sound Business Journal Raised in a logging town and trained in the field, Mike Warjone brings a long-term view to leading one of the Northwest’s oldest timber companies.

Member news: Congratulations to Alaska Airlines, Bank of America, and JPMorganChase for being named to Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work 2026 list, a recognition that reflects their commitment to strong workplace culture and employee experience https://www.glassdoor.com/Award/Best-Places-to-Work-LST_KQ0,19.htm

Washington is one of the most expensive places to live in the country, prices are rising faster here than in any other state, and new data puts real numbers behind the affordability challenges experienced in every region of our state.

Today, the Washington Roundtable, in partnership with Kinetic West, is releasing a new report titled, Prices We Pay: Understanding Washington’s Affordability Crisis.

The report highlights several key findings about the scale and pace of rising costs in Washington:

● Costs rising faster than anywhere else: Prices in Washington have risen faster than any other state, growing twice as fast as California, which is the most expensive state in the nation.

● Household spending up sharply: Per-person consumer spending has risen nearly 55 percent since 2015, driven by increases in essentials like housing, food, healthcare, and transportation.

● High costs statewide: Every metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in Washington ranks among the nation’s top quartile for prices. Seattle ranks as the fifth-most expensive MSA and is the highest-priced metro outside California. Four other Washington MSAs—Bremerton, Mount Vernon, Olympia, and Vancouver—rank in the top 10 percent nationally.

● Population shifts linked to cost differences: Between 2021 and 2023, Washington experienced a net loss of more than 55,000 residents, with most moving to lower-cost states.

Looking across multiple data sources and measures, the conclusion is consistent: Washington’s cost of living is high, rising quickly, and shaping decisions for families, workers, employers, and communities statewide.

At a time when we should be bending the cost curve, the affordability gap in Washington is growing. Understanding what’s driving these pressures is critical.

This study is an important first step in defining the scope of the challenge and establishing a shared fact base to inform deeper analysis and action. No single sector can solve this alone.

The full report has more data and trend analysis, explore it here:

Read the Report: Prices We Pay: Understanding Washington’sAffordability Crisis A data-driven affordability report from Washington Roundtable examining costs for housing, transportation, childcare, and other rising expenses across Washington state.