Cost of Living in Forks, WA
Updated November 2026 · Clallam County · Port Angeles, WA micropolitan area · population 3,400
Prices in Forks are 5.1% below the US average (local index 94.9; the BEA index for nonmetropolitan Washington is 97.4), with local housing the biggest saving at 63.8; a single adult's modelled budget is about $2,348 a month and the median rent is $921.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects Forks's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for nonmetropolitan Washington, unchanged.
Forks price index by category, US average = 100: All items 94.9, Housing (rents) 63.8, Goods 105.0, Utilities 90.1, Other services 99.5
It is the least expensive of the 32 Washington cities in our data. Cheaper than 75% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.3 | 96.9 | 97.0 | 101.0 | 97.9 | 97.4 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Forks, WA
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $658 | $7,896 | 28% |
| Utilities | $233 | $2,796 | 10% |
| Food at home | $296 | $3,552 | 13% |
| Transportation | $638 | $7,656 | 27% |
| Health care | $350 | $4,200 | 15% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $173 | $2,076 | 7% |
| Total | $2,348 | $28,176 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Forks, WA
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $750 | $9,000 | 19% |
| Utilities | $371 | $4,452 | 9% |
| Food at home | $547 | $6,564 | 14% |
| Transportation | $1,258 | $15,096 | 32% |
| Health care | $648 | $7,776 | 17% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $341 | $4,092 | 9% |
| Total | $3,915 | $46,980 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Forks, WA
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $844 | $10,128 | 18% |
| Utilities | $452 | $5,424 | 9% |
| Food at home | $780 | $9,360 | 16% |
| Transportation | $1,682 | $20,184 | 35% |
| Health care | $604 | $7,248 | 13% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $440 | $5,280 | 9% |
| Total | $4,802 | $57,624 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in Forks
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $813 modelled from city median rent |
| 1 bedroom | $805 modelled from city median rent |
| 2 bedrooms | $917 modelled from city median rent |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,032 modelled from city median rent |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,276 modelled from city median rent |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $921 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $753 |
| Median home value | $227,200 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage wide margin | $1,861/mo |
| Median household income wide margin | $60,481 |
| Rent as % of renter income wide margin | 25.0% |
| Home value ÷ household income wide margin | 3.8× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in Washington
14.63¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: +7.2% (from 13.65¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 928 kWh a month in Washington ≈ $132/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline
$5.09 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +22.1% (from $4.17) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey.
Inflation in the West
Consumer prices in the West Census region rose +3.4% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in Forks are 5.1% below the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $63,200 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 94.9. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Nearby cities
| City | Distance | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Townsend, WA | 75 mi | 103.2 | $2,967 | $1,578 |
| Bremerton, WA | 83 mi | 104.3 | $2,949 | $1,641 |
| Port Orchard, WA | 87 mi | 106.3 | $3,383 | $1,797 |
| Olympia, WA | 94 mi | 103.3 | $2,964 | $1,599 |
| Shoreline, WA | 96 mi | 112.8 | $3,287 | $1,985 |
| Lacey, WA | 97 mi | 106.7 | $3,314 | $1,870 |
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZ | 94.8 | $2,486 | $1,145 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 94.8 | $2,386 | $1,184 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 94.9 | $2,757 | $1,261 |
| Columbus, OH | 94.9 | $2,581 | $1,295 |
| Elko, NV | 94.8 | $2,434 | $1,267 |
| Yuma, AZ | 95.0 | $2,360 | $1,114 |
Compare Forks with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Forks, WA an expensive place to live?
Forks has a local cost of living index of 94.9, which is 5.1% below the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for nonmetropolitan Washington (97.4) and adjusts housing to Forks's own rents. It is 12.1 points below the Washington average. It is the least expensive of the 32 Washington cities in our data. Cheaper than 75% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in Forks?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $2,348 for a single adult, $3,915 for a couple and $4,802 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $56,900 in Forks.
What is the average rent in Forks?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $921 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $805, 2 bedrooms $917, 3 bedrooms $1,032.
How much does a house cost in Forks?
The median owner-estimated home value is $227,200.
How much is electricity and gas in Forks?
Washington residential electricity averaged 14.63¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $5.09 a gallon (Washington average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for Washington nonmetropolitan portion (BEA index 97.4) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 5324810 (Forks city).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, Washington residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, Washington, week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U West region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
- BEA area index: state nonmetro figure (in a micropolitan area; BEA publishes RPPs only for metro areas).
- Median household income: county figure (place estimate has a wide margin of error (CV 47%)).
- Median owner cost mortgage: county figure (place estimate has a wide margin of error (CV 37%)).
- Rent % income: county figure (place estimate has a wide margin of error (CV 51%)).
- Rents by bedrooms: modelled from city median rent (city bedroom medians: 1BR median has a wide margin of error).
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources