KREM News Spokane Washington: What Will It Cost To Live Here, Prices Are Revealed. - The Creative Suite
Behind the polished news segments and local broadcasts from KREM News in Spokane lies a sharper reality—one where affordability is no longer a whisper but a clarion call. Recent grassroots price audits, combined with first-hand reporting from residents and local service providers, reveal a cost of living that challenges long-held assumptions. For decades, Spokane was perceived as a mid-tier Midwestern hub—moderate in expenses, manageable in housing, and accessible. But beneath this facade, a deeper economic friction is emerging, shaped by regional migration, stagnant wage growth, and infrastructure strain.
KREM’s on-the-ground reporting, based on interviews with over 150 households, small business owners, and rental agents, shows that the average monthly cost of basic living has surged—by nearly 18% in the past two years. A two-bedroom apartment, once priced at roughly $1,200, now averages $1,540—reflecting national pressures but amplified by local supply constraints. A gallon of gas, once $3.20, now consistently exceeds $4.10, squeezing transportation budgets more than rent. Even staple groceries, though relatively stable at $420 for a weekly basket, reveal hidden inequities: fresh produce in underserved neighborhoods costs 22% more due to limited distribution networks.
Housing: The Hidden Engine of Rising Costs
Housing dominates the budget calculus. Spokane’s median home price has climbed from $180,000 in 2021 to $235,000 today—a 30% increase—driven not just by demand but by constrained construction. Unlike booming metro areas, Spokane lacks aggressive zoning reform and suffers from lengthy permitting delays, limiting new supply. KREM’s investigation uncovered a stark paradox: while new developments target affluent buyers, affordable housing units remain scarce, pushing low- and middle-income families into overcrowded units or neighborhoods with fewer services. This imbalance isn’t just economic—it’s spatial. The city’s outer districts, where housing is cheaper, are increasingly distant from jobs, transit, and amenities, deepening socioeconomic divides.
Local data reveals a troubling trend: 43% of renters now spend over 30% of their income on housing—well above the 30% threshold widely cited as financially sustainable. With average wages rising only 4% annually, this squeeze is unsustainable. For the first time in decades, Spokane’s cost of living index, adjusted for purchasing power, ranks above 115—not just above the national average, but above cities like Charleston or Boise, which once symbolized affordable Western growth.
Utilities, Food, and Life’s Hidden Expenses
Utilities, often overlooked in cost-of-living analyses, have risen sharply. Electric rates have climbed 15% due to regional grid pressures and winter demand spikes, while water and sewer fees have increased by 12% in the last 18 months. These are not trivial; for a family earning $45,000 annually, a 10% rise in utility bills eats into savings earmarked for education or healthcare. Food prices, though moderated by regional agricultural strength, reflect national inflation. A loaf of bread, once $2.15, now averages $2.40—up 11%—and a family of four spends $110 more monthly, a sum that compounds across months and years.
Transportation costs compound this pressure. Public transit fares have risen 7% nationally, but in Spokane, where car dependency remains high, private vehicle ownership and maintenance eat up nearly $150 of the average monthly budget. With few robust bike lanes or pedestrian infrastructure, commuting costs disproportionately burden lower earners, limiting mobility and opportunity.
What Lies Ahead? A Cost of Living in Transition
The data paints a clear picture: Spokane’s cost of living is no longer stable—it’s in motion, trending upward in key categories, with housing and utilities leading the charge. While the city retains its charm and regional appeal, affordability is eroding. For policymakers, the challenge is not just data collection, but timely intervention: expanding housing supply, stabilizing essential utilities, and supporting wage growth. For residents, it demands a reckoning—with rising prices, but also with community solutions. The question is no longer whether Spokane can afford to live here, but whether it can afford to remain livable for all.