Current data suggests that a condo in Tacoma costs around $197,800 on average, whereas in Seattle, it costs around $436,600. Thus your money goes further in Tacoma. You can get into a beautiful condo in the Commencement Bay area for a price comparable to a regular Seattle rental.
Forbes calculates that Tacoma has a 5.2% higher cost of living than the United States when considering housing, transportation, entertainment, and food. Tacoma’s cost of living is comparable to that of San Bernardino, CA, which is also 5.2% above the national average and has a population of just over 215,000; however, houses in nearby San Bernardino are significantly more expensive than Tacoma, with the typical condo price there being around $230,000.