Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Kalama, Washington
A $428,000 home here costs
$3,195per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $137,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,333. The real number is $861 higher every month, 37% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Cowlitz County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Kalama from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,996 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Cowlitz County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Kalama against Cowlitz County and Washington
| Measure | Kalama | Cowlitz County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $428,000 | $367,400 |
| Median property tax | $2,803 | $2,988 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.655% | 0.813% |
| Median gross rent | — | $1,169 |
| Population | 2,996 | 111,539 |
The weather behind that power bill
Kalama sits in Cowlitz County, which averages a high of 82.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 37.2°F in its coldest, with 40.66" of precipitation a year and 42% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 427 cooling and 4,155 heating degree days, which is what sets the $140 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Cowlitz County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Cowlitz County
Full Cowlitz County cost breakdown · Every county in Washington
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Kalama averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Kalama every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Kalama I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Kalama?
A $428,000 home in Kalama, Washington costs approximately $3,195 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $2,333 principal and interest, $234 property tax, $63 homeowners insurance, $208 utilities and $357 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Kalama?
Kalama has an effective property tax rate of 0.655%, based on a median home value of $428,000 and median real estate taxes of $2,803. That is lower than the Cowlitz County average of 0.813%.
What is the average home price in Kalama?
The median owner-occupied home value in Kalama, Washington is $428,000, against $367,400 across Cowlitz County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Kalama?
Rent data is not published for Kalama at this level of detail.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Kalama?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Kalama, Washington at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $137,000 a year. That covers the full $3,195 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Kalama, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Washington.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.