Cost of Living Comparison Between Olympia, WA and Derby Cost of Living Comparison Between Olympia, WA and Derby

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,813 per month in Olympia, WA vs $2,184 in Derby, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,874 per month in Olympia, WA vs $3,267 in Derby, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,936 per month in Olympia, WA vs $4,351 in Derby, rent included.

Olympia, WA costs about 29% more than Derby, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Olympia, WA and Derby sit above the global median – Olympia, WA by 111%, Derby by 63%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Olympia, WA
Derby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.09 $20.09
$25.11 £18.68
-19.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.3 $69.3
$81.1 £60.3
-14.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.15 $12.15
$10.80 £8.03
12.50%
Cappuccino
$4.93 $4.93
$5.11 £3.80
-3.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$2.32 £1.73
7.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.58 £1.17
20.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.16 $7.16
$6.20 £4.61
15.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.97 $5.97
$5.39 £4.01
10.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Olympia, WA
Derby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.48 £1.10
-29.73%
White Bread (500g)
$3.85 $3.85
$1.42 £1.05
171.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$2.36 £1.76
81.78%
Eggs
$4.40 $4.40
$3.99 £2.97
10.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.03 $15.03
$9.11 £6.77
64.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.58 $10.58
$8.72 £6.49
21.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.90 $14.90
$12.99 £9.66
14.70%
Apples (1kg)
$5.16 $5.16
$4.63 £3.44
11.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$2.75 £2.04
-40.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.18 $4.18
$2.93 £2.18
42.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.00 $5.00
$3.19 £2.37
56.74%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$0.94 £0.70
205.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.72 £1.28
18.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.12 £0.83
101.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.42 £1.06
56.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.86 $10.86
$18.66 £13.88
-41.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.22 $15.22
$10.70 £7.96
42.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 $1.88
$2.71 £2.02
-30.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 $4.63
$3.15 £2.35
46.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Olympia, WA
Derby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 $0.36
$2.75 £2.05
-86.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$92.3 £68.6
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 $3.87
$4.81 £3.58
-19.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.55 £1.15
31.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.29 $36.29
$24.47 £18.20
48.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.91 £1.42
-46.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K $33.2K
$38.3K £28.5K
-13.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$41.1K £30.6K
-37.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Olympia, WA
Derby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 $121
$353 £263
-65.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.4 $60.4
$15.58 £11.59
287.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$47.63 £35.43
32.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Olympia, WA
Derby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.0 $58.0
$45.35 £33.73
27.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.83 $9.83
$24.85 £18.48
-60.44%
Cinema Ticket
$11.03 $11.03
$15.33 £11.41
-28.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Olympia, WA
Derby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,455 $1,455
$1,878 £1,397
-22.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.0K $19.0K
$20.4K £15.2K
-6.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Olympia, WA
Derby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.9 $51.9
$118 £87.7
-56.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.06 $48.06
$58.0 £43.11
-17.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.3 $88.3
$81.4 £60.6
8.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.0 $98.0
$99.1 £73.7
-1.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Olympia, WA
Derby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,682 $1,682
$774 £576
117.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,607 $1,607
$760 £565
111.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,839 $2,839
$1,451 £1,079
95.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,309 $2,309
$1,372 £1,020
68.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,191 $3,191
$5,778 £4,297
-44.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,943 $2,943
$3,177 £2,363
-7.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Olympia, WA
Derby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,033 $5,033
$3,534 £2,628
42.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.41
5.56
15.29%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Olympia, WA: July 11, 2026

Last update for Derby: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,682 in Olympia, WA versus $774 in Derby. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 42% higher in Olympia, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Olympia, WA versus $81.0 in Derby. Groceries tell a different story – $401 in Olympia, WA vs $301 in Derby – so Derby wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Olympia, WA vs Derby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Olympia, WA or Derby?
Olympia, WA costs about 29% more than Derby, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Olympia, WA and in Derby?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,219 per month in Olympia, WA and $3,276 in Derby. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Olympia, WA or Derby?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Derby, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Olympia, WA compared to Derby?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,813 in Olympia, WA and $2,184 in Derby. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Olympia, WA and in Derby?
Kindergarten costs $1,455 per month in Olympia, WA and $1,878 in Derby. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Olympia, WA or in Derby?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Derby, where all-in costs run around $2,184, than in Olympia, WA at $2,813. In Derby it covers expenses comfortably, while in Olympia, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Derby – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Olympia, WA or to Derby?
If budget matters most, go with Derby. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Olympia, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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