Kelso, WA at a glance
Median household income
$66,751$5,563 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Kelso, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Kelso, WA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Longview-Kelso, WA MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,000 | $12,000 | $40,000 | 18% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,199 | $14,388 | $47,960 | 21.6% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,451 | $17,412 | $58,040 | 26.1% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,018 | $24,216 | $80,720 | 36.3% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,434 | $29,208 | $97,360 | 43.8% |
What a typical income covers in Kelso, WA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $66,751 a year ($5,563 a month before tax).
What $66,751 leaves after Washington taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Washington tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Washington
Living in Kelso, WA: common questions
What is the median household income in Kelso, WA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Kelso, WA is $66,751 per year (approximately $5,563 per month).
What is the average rent in Kelso, WA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,000 for a studio, $1,199 for one bedroom, $1,451 for two, $2,018 for three and $2,434 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Kelso, WA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 2.5% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 97.5, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Kelso, WA?
To keep a $1,451 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $58,040 a year, or $4,837 a month. That is 87% of what the typical household in Kelso, WA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Kelso, WA?
On the local median income of $66,751 ($5,563 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,781 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,669 for everything else and $1,113 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,451 takes 52% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Kelso, WA?
Homes in Washington paid 14.9¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $134. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.