‘What will it take for this to slow down?’: Gee Scott assesses soaring cost of living in Washington
Jun 18, 2025, 5:00 AM
A single adult needs to make $109,658 to live comfortably in Washington, according to SmartAsset’s 2025 study. Washington was ranked the fifth most expensive state to live in the U.S. Last year, the income needed to live comfortably in Washington was $106,496.
“The question is, what will it take for this to slow down?” KIRO host Gee Scott asked on “Seattle’s Morning News.”
The cost of living in Seattle is 45% higher than the national average and 8% higher than the state average, according to RentCafe. Buying a house in Seattle is even pricier, coming up at 112% more expensive than the U.S. average.
Analyzing income needed to live comfortably in Washington
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“Obviously, we have a limited housing supply in the state of Washington that needs to be addressed like yesterday,” Gee said. “But I just don’t know when and if it’s going to stop. It feels like it won’t stop, and it feels like the only thing you can do to combat this is either A.) make a lot of money, or B.) move.”
New York ranked as the fourth-most expensive state to live in, with single adult New Yorkers needing to make $114,691 to live comfortably, according to SmartAsset. Hawaii is the most expensive state to live in, per SmartAsset, at $124,467 per person. Massachusetts ranked second at $120,141, while California ranked third at $119,475.
Having to move when the price goes up is reminiscent of gentrification, Gee noted.
“That happens throughout the country,” he said. “There were a lot of people that lived near the city, all across the country, the same people that were redlined, they had to move because they could not afford to live in those areas. And it’s almost like a common day redlining.”
To combat rising prices, Gee is trying to cut back on small spending. However, he noted it’s easier said than done.
“That is the hardest part,” he said. “And I’m talking about the little things. There have been times in my life when I’m like, ‘OK, saving 10 bucks, that’s no big deal.’ But yes, actually saving 10 bucks here, saving five bucks there, that adds up.”
Listen to the full conversation below.
Listen to “Seattle’s Morning News” with Charlie Harger and Manda Factor weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. on KIRO Newsradio. Subscribe to the podcast here.
