Cost to Own
United States › Washington › Yakima County › Yakima Population 96,810 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-15
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $664 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Yakima County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Yakima, Washington

A $273,000 home here costs

$2,177

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $93,500 a year.

P&I 69%Tax 9%Insurance 2%Utilities 10%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,512. The real number is $664 higher every month, 44% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Yakima County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Yakima median: $273,400
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, $218,400 borrowed $1,512
Property tax0.826% effective rate for Yakima itself $188
Homeowners insuranceWashington averages $1,001/yr (NAIC), or 0.178% of home value $40
Electricity14.71ยข/kWh, Washington residential average, EIA $140
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $228
Total monthly $2,177

Yakima against Yakima County and Washington

MeasureYakimaYakima County
Median home value$273,400$281,100
Median property tax$2,258$2,299
Effective tax rate0.826%0.818%
Median gross rent$1,075$1,068
Population96,810256,605

The weather behind that power bill

Yakima sits in Yakima County, which averages a high of 89.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 23.1°F in its coldest, with 8.01" of precipitation a year and 44% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 606 cooling and 5,756 heating degree days, which is what sets the $140 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Yakima County

Full Yakima County cost breakdown · Every county in Washington

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Yakima?

A $273,000 home in Yakima, Washington costs approximately $2,177 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $1,512 principal and interest, $188 property tax, $40 homeowners insurance, $208 utilities and $228 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Yakima?

Yakima has an effective property tax rate of 0.826%, based on a median home value of $273,400 and median real estate taxes of $2,258. That is in line with the Yakima County average of 0.818%.

What is the average home price in Yakima?

The median owner-occupied home value in Yakima, Washington is $273,400, against $281,100 across Yakima County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Yakima?

Median gross rent in Yakima is $1,075 a month, against $2,177 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 Yakima?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Yakima, Washington at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $93,500 a year. That covers the full $2,177 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Yakima, 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