Best Places to Retire in Washington for Cost of Living

Quick answer

The most affordable places to retire in Washington in 2026 are Bryn Mawr-Skyway, Mukilteo, and Silverdale. Bryn Mawr-Skyway ranks first, with col index of 110. Rankings below cover 15 Washington cities and measure the overall cost-of-living index relative to the U.S. average (100), using the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities and the Census Bureau.

Cities where your retirement savings go further, ranked by overall cost of living and affordability. When choosing a retirement destination in Washington, cost of living is often a top priority. The cities below are ranked by the overall cost-of-living index relative to the U.S. average (100), drawn from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities and the Census Bureau and refreshed for 2026.

Source: the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities and the Census Bureau. See our full methodology and data lineage →

tax-friendly for retireesestablished retirement community

Ranked #1 of 15 Washington cities for cost of living, with col index of 110. Retirees choose it for tax-friendly for retirees and established retirement community.

COL Index

110

tax-friendly for retireesestablished retirement community

Ranked #2 of 15 Washington cities for cost of living, with col index of 110. Retirees choose it for tax-friendly for retirees and established retirement community.

COL Index

110

tax-friendly for retireesestablished retirement community

Ranked #3 of 15 Washington cities for cost of living, with col index of 110. Retirees choose it for tax-friendly for retirees and established retirement community.

COL Index

110

tax-friendly for retireesestablished retirement community

Ranked #4 of 15 Washington cities for cost of living, with col index of 110. Retirees choose it for tax-friendly for retirees and established retirement community.

COL Index

110

tax-friendly for retireesestablished retirement community

Ranked #5 of 15 Washington cities for cost of living, with col index of 110. Retirees choose it for tax-friendly for retirees and established retirement community.

COL Index

110

established retirement community

Ranked #6 of 15 Washington cities for cost of living, with col index of 110. Retirees choose it for established retirement community.

COL Index

110

established retirement community

Ranked #7 of 15 Washington cities for cost of living, with col index of 110. Retirees choose it for established retirement community.

COL Index

110

established retirement community

Ranked #8 of 15 Washington cities for cost of living, with col index of 110. Retirees choose it for established retirement community.

COL Index

110

established retirement community

Ranked #9 of 15 Washington cities for cost of living, with col index of 110. Retirees choose it for established retirement community.

COL Index

110

Ranked #10 of 15 Washington cities for cost of living, with col index of 110.

COL Index

110

established retirement community

Ranked #11 of 15 Washington cities for cost of living, with col index of 110. Retirees choose it for established retirement community.

COL Index

110

established retirement community

Ranked #12 of 15 Washington cities for cost of living, with col index of 110. Retirees choose it for established retirement community.

COL Index

110

established retirement community

Ranked #13 of 15 Washington cities for cost of living, with col index of 110. Retirees choose it for established retirement community.

COL Index

110

Ranked #14 of 15 Washington cities for cost of living, with col index of 110.

COL Index

110

established retirement community

Ranked #15 of 15 Washington cities for cost of living, with col index of 110. Retirees choose it for established retirement community.

COL Index

110

Want a personalized retirement recommendation?

Our retirement quiz analyzes your preferences for taxes, climate, and lifestyle to find the perfect city for your next chapter.

Take the Retirement Quiz

Frequently asked questions

What is the best place to retire in Washington for cost of living?

Bryn Mawr-Skyway ranks first among Washington retirement cities for cost of living, with col index of 110. Mukilteo and Silverdale follow closely behind. Rankings use the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities and the Census Bureau.

How does RetireCityIQ rank Washington cities for cost of living?

Each city is scored on the overall cost-of-living index relative to the U.S. average (100), sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities and the Census Bureau. Cities are then ordered from lowest to highest on that metric. See our methodology page for the full scoring model and data lineage.

Which Washington cities are covered in these cost of living rankings?

These rankings cover 15 Washington retirement cities, including Bryn Mawr-Skyway, Mukilteo, Silverdale, Felida, Woodinville, and more. Each links to a full retirement guide with cost of living, taxes, healthcare, and climate data.

Other Washington Retirement Guides