Cost of Living in Bothell
Bothell runs genuinely expensive, with a high combined sales tax rate and property tax that depends on which side of the King/Snohomish county line a specific address falls on.
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Learn moreHousing costs run high on both sides of the county line
A $1,041,433 citywide median sale price (June 2026, down 13.2% YoY) is genuinely expensive by any national standard, though it varies by submarket: Bothell East ran $1.3M, Bothell West $932K.
A high combined sales tax rate
Bothell's minimum combined 2026 sales tax rate is 10.6% -- among the higher rates in this Washington Tier B batch, worth factoring into everyday budgeting given Washington's sales-tax-reliant, no-income-tax revenue structure.
Property tax depends on which county side of Bothell you're in
This record uses King County's ~0.83% countywide average effective rate (the highest of Washington's 39 counties) because Bothell's City Hall and Canyon Park corridor sit on the King County side. The Snohomish-County-side portion of the city would instead see Snohomish County's lower ~0.79% rate -- confirm a specific parcel's actual rate directly.
Washington's no state income tax, offset by a real capital gains excise tax
Washington has no state income tax, but a real, current capital gains excise tax applies statewide (7% on gains up to $1M, 9.9% above that) -- directly relevant to Bothell's biotech- and tech-equity-compensated workforce.
Key takeaways
- Bothell's housing runs genuinely expensive citywide ($1,041,433 median, June 2026), with a real submarket split (Bothell East $1.3M vs. Bothell West $932K).
- Bothell's 10.6% combined sales tax rate is among the higher rates in this Washington Tier B batch.
- Property tax rate depends on which county side of Bothell an address is in -- King County's ~0.83% vs. Snohomish County's ~0.79%.
- Washington's no-income-tax status is meaningfully offset by the state's real capital gains excise tax for high earners.
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