Seattle, WA vs Spokane, WA: sales tax compared
Quick answer
Seattle, WA is the higher-tax metro at 10.45%, versus 9% in Spokane, WA. The 1.45% gap works out to $1.45 on a $100 purchase, $14.50 on $1,000 and $362.50 on a $25,000 purchase.
- Rate gap
- 1.45%Percentage points, combined rate
- Extra tax on $1,000
- $14.50Paid in Seattle
- Extra tax on $25,000
- $362.50Vehicle-sized purchase
Seattle, WA
King County
10.45%
Combined rate · ranked #1 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | Washington state | 6.5% |
| county | King County | 1.4% |
| city | City of Seattle | 1.15% |
| special district | Sound Transit and transportation benefit district | 1.4% |
- Population
- 755,078
- Median household income
- $116,068
Washington has no income tax and leans hard on sales tax; Seattle's Sound Transit component funds light rail expansion through 2046.
Spokane, WA
Spokane County
9%
Combined rate · ranked #16 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | Washington state | 6.5% |
| county | Spokane County | 1.6% |
| city | City of Spokane and transit benefit district | 0.9% |
- Population
- 229,447
- Median household income
- $62,016
Spokane's total sits well below Seattle's because Spokane Transit's levy is smaller and there is no regional light-rail authority.
How the difference is calculated
Same arithmetic the calculator on every page runs.
Each combined rate is the sum of its listed state, county, city and special-district components — no rounding is applied before the total. The dollar gap is the rate difference (1.45%) applied to the pre-tax amount: 1.45% of $1,000 is $14.50. Neither figure includes product-specific exemptions; groceries, clothing and digital goods can be taxed at a different rate or not at all, which is covered on each state's rules page.
Questions people ask
Direct answers to the questions this comparison raises.
Which has a higher sales tax rate, Seattle or Spokane?
Seattle, WA at 10.45%, versus 9% in Spokane, WA.
How much more sales tax would I pay in Seattle on a $1,000 purchase?
About $14.50 more, and roughly $362.50 more on a $25,000 vehicle-sized purchase.
Why do Seattle and Spokane have different rates?
The state share is 6.5% in WA and 6.5% in WA. The rest comes from county, city and special-district increments stacked on top, which are set locally and listed in full on this page.