Cost to Own
United States › Washington › Grant County › Soap Lake Population 1,286 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $453 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Grant County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Soap Lake, Washington

A $156,000 home here costs

$1,304

per 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 $56,000 a year.

P&I 65%Tax 7%Insurance 2%Utilities 16%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $851. The real number is $453 higher every month, 53% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Grant County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Soap Lake from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,286 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 Grant County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Soap Lake median: $156,300
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
WA average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $124,800 borrowed $851
Property tax0.711% effective rate for Soap Lake itself $92
Homeowners insuranceWashington averages $1,001/yr (NAIC), or 0.178% of home value $23
Electricity14.63ยข/kWh, Washington residential average, EIA $140
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $130
Total monthly $1,304

Soap Lake against Grant County and Washington

MeasureSoap LakeGrant County
Median home value$156,300$275,700
Median property tax$1,111$2,268
Effective tax rate0.711%0.823%
Median gross rent$605$1,059
Population1,286100,428

The weather behind that power bill

Soap Lake sits in Grant County, which averages a high of 89.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 23.5°F in its coldest, with 7.58" of precipitation a year and 38% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 843 cooling and 5,753 heating degree days, which is what sets the $140 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Grant County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Grant County

Full Grant County cost breakdown · Every county in Washington

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Soap Lake 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 Soap Lake every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Soap Lake I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Soap Lake?

A $156,000 home in Soap Lake, Washington costs approximately $1,304 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $851 principal and interest, $92 property tax, $23 homeowners insurance, $208 utilities and $130 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Soap Lake?

Soap Lake has an effective property tax rate of 0.711%, based on a median home value of $156,300 and median real estate taxes of $1,111. That is lower than the Grant County average of 0.823%.

What is the average home price in Soap Lake?

The median owner-occupied home value in Soap Lake, Washington is $156,300, against $275,700 across Grant County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Soap Lake?

Median gross rent in Soap Lake is $605 a month, against $1,304 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Soap Lake?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Soap Lake, Washington at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $56,000 a year. That covers the full $1,304 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Soap Lake, 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.

Full methodology