How much does it cost to live in Washington?
Washington state has the seventh highest overall living cost compared to other states. A single person living in Washington should expect a total of $2,050 of monthly expenses, whereas a family of four’s monthly expenses could reach $4748. Living in Washington, on average, costs 1.16 times more than the US average.
Cost of Living Parameters
Housing & Rent
The value of a typical home in Washington state is noticeably higher than the national median value of the country. The typical home in the state costs around $550,000; home sales prices have witnessed a 35%-40% increase year-over-year!
The average monthly rent in Washington state is slightly higher than the national median value reaching $1,194 per month.
Here are some stats on Washington mortgages:
- Homeownership rate: 62.5%
- Homeowner vacancy rate: 0.8%
- Rental vacancy rate: 5.1%
Childcare
Washington state is known for its expensive child care services from pre-pandemic days. With that said, the COVID-19 crisis put childcare providers in Washington in a position where they had to increase the costs of their services by 55% per child. Washington’s average costs have risen from $11,774, pre-pandemic, to $18,237 per child on a yearly basis post-pandemic.
Here’s a look at the annual childcare costs from infant to college:
- Infant: $14,554
- 4-year-old: $11,051
- School: $11,992
- College: $6,830
Utilities
Apartment utilities refer to the essential services required in a home such as gas, water, electricity, cable, and internet. On average, a Washington resident will spend up to $390.25 per month for apartment utilities.
Approximate cost of each utility per month in Washington:
- Electricity: $95.09
- Water: $57
- Sewer: $77
- Gas: $61.17
- Cable: $40
- Internet: $60
- Cell Phone: $94
- Food & Groceries
The typical single adult in Washington spends an average of $3,364 on food and groceries each year, while a family of four spends from $9,715 to $11,106 on average.
The average price for eating out would be:
- A basic meal with a drink at an inexpensive restaurant: $15.30
- Fast food combo (Big Mac etc.): $9.08
- Bottle of Coca-Cola: $2.06
- Bottle of water: $1.21
Groceries in the state would cost as follows:
- Milk (regular), (1 liter): $0.89
- Loaf of fresh white bread (500g): $2.96
- Rice (1 Kg): $4.15
- Eggs (regular) (12): $2.75
- 4 rolls of toilet paper: $3.9
- Hair shampoo: $4.90
Transportation
In Washington’s metropolitan areas, a variety of transportation options are widely available. For example, the state’s largest city, Seattle, offers a comprehensive transportation system operated by multiple agencies. Residents of Seattle can get around via train, bus, or water taxi!
An average Washington single adult will spend approximately $4,900 annually on transportation alone, whereas a family of four with 2 working adults and 2 children can expect to pay up to $13,317 per year.
Having a monthly transit ticket in Washington will cost you on average $66.05 per month. A taxi ride for one individual in Washington per 8 km or 5 miles will cost you $18.56 on average.
Average Income & Taxes
The average yearly income of a single adult living in Washington is $72,698. Washington doesn’t have a typical individual income tax but does impose a 7% tax on capital gains income. Washington also doesn’t have a corporate income tax but does force a gross receipts tax.
Most Expensive Washington Cities to Live in:
- Lynnwood
- Bellingham
- Renton
- Seattle
- Pullman
Why is disability insurance important to have in Washington?
As shown by the above cost of living breakdown, a steady income is required to live comfortably and worry-free. But sometimes you find yourself unable to work due to some sort of emergency, illness or accident. Whether you are a full-time employee or a freelancer, getting disability insurance is the first step towards financial stability and peace of mind.
What would happen if you found yourself unable to earn a paycheck because you were too ill or injured to work? According to a recent survey conducted by the personal financial website Bankrate, more than half of Americans (51%) have less than three months' worth of emergency funds.
Medical bills are reported to be the number one cause of U.S. bankruptcies. One study has claimed that medical issues caused 62.1% of bankruptcies. Other studies show that over 2 million people are adversely affected by their medical expenses.
If medical bills start piling up, you may no longer be able to support your lifestyle in other areas, especially if your income is on hold. You might find yourself unable to pay for utilities and rent, and that eventually could lead to foreclosure. Half of foreclosures on conventional mortgages in Washington are caused by the disability of one of the homeowners. In fact, Washington came in 43rd place for highest foreclosure rate. It has 3,202,241 housing units, of which 202 went into foreclosure, making the state's foreclosure rate one in every 15,853 households.
A lot of people still think that the need for disability insurance is not top priority, thinking that disability rarely happens, and when it does, it’s only caused by serious accidents. But did you know that up to 90% of disability cases recorded are due to illness, not injury? Getting disability income insurance should be on top of your to-do list because life is unpredictable and your income shouldn’t be.
Does Washington have state disability insurance?
Only 5 states in the U.S. require companies to provide their employees with disability insurance coverage that includes benefits for accidents or illnesses sustained outside of the workplace. Unfortunately, Washington isn’t one of those states.
The Disability Determination Services (DDS) of Washington determines whether a resident with a physical or developmental disability is eligible for Social Security disability payments such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
Disabled Washington residents who meet the criteria can apply for Social Security disability benefits and receive compensation. SSDI payments are only available to those who have worked long enough to accumulate the necessary number of work credits. Depending on how much you make that year, you can receive up to four work credits. To qualify for SSDI, you must have at least 40 work credits, 20 of which must be from the last ten years.
A disability claims examiner at DDS, with the help of a medical consultant, makes the initial determination after gathering the patient's medical records. Approximately 40% of Washington's disability applicants are approved upon their initial application (based on applications in 2021-2022), which is slightly higher than the national average. However, this process will take up much time and can be detrimental during emergencies.
What qualifies as disability in Washington?
If you have disability insurance provided by your employer, make sure to double check the criteria in the agreement that qualifies you to receive disability benefits when you’re unable to work. Some of these criteria can include the following:
- You are unable to perform the Substantial and Material Duties of your Regular Occupation as shown on the Schedule and;
- You are under the Regular Care of a Physician appropriate for your disabling Sickness or Injury and;
- There is no reasonable simplified worksite modification(s) that would allow you to perform one or more of the Substantial and Material Duties of your regular job.
How can I easily get disability insurance in Washington?
Seeking a private disability insurance policy is the easiest option in Washington. Here at Asteya, we offer disability insurance (or disability income insurance as we like to call it) that’s simple, fast, and affordable. Our 100% digital process means we don’t tire you out with proof of income, medical exams, phone interviews, or wait times. Click here to get a quote, or contact us for any inquiries.
Who qualifies for disability insurance in Washington?
Most insurance policies are bought to protect homes, vehicles, and health, but our most valuable asset tends to get neglected: our income. 70% of working Americans live paycheck to paycheck, with little savings to buffer the financial burden of a disability that leaves them unable to work.
At Asteya, we offer a variety of disability income insurance policies. Please visit asteya.world for more details on the eligibility of our product offering.
How much does disability insurance in Washington cost?
Protecting your income shouldn’t be a luxury, so here at Asteya, we’ve created affordable and easy solutions that won’t drain what you’re trying to protect (your income!). Our prices start as low as:
- Permanent Disability Income Insurance: starting at $6.05/month
- Long-Term Disability Income Insurance: starting at is $5/month
The bottom line
On average, living in the state of Washington will cost you $2,050 per month, give or take – that’s a lot of expenses! You've invested a lot of time and hard work in building a life that works for you, and your hard work should not go to waste due to an accident or illness. That’s why you should protect your lifestyle and your income with disability insurance.
If you're still on the fence about whether disability income insurance is for you (hint: it is), here are a few extra points to consider while thinking about it:
- Asteya’s applications are 100% digital. We don't require blood tests or doctor's appointments, unlike other insurers and we'll just ask you a few minutes of questions to determine your best policy.
- Get paid out directly on an approved claim, and spend without restrictions once it's in your bank account.
- We've made our Income Insurance as inclusive and accessible as possible. From corner store employees to corner office executives, our products were created to fit every budget and lifestyle.