Spokane’s living costs still lower than average

Spokane’s cost of living improved in comparison with other cities, according to new survey results for the second quarter of 2008.

With the national average for costs set at 100, Spokane registered a 91.2, meaning the city is 8.8 percent less expensive to live in than the average city. More than 300 cities were studied.

The survey for the Council for Community and Economic Research found that Spokane’s health care and transportation expenditures were 7.6 percent and 6.6 percent higher, respectively, than the national averages. But groceries, housing, utilities and miscellaneous goods and services each were lower.

The composite score was an improvement over results for the first quarter of this year, when Spokane yielded a composite score of 92.5.

The survey reviews prices of 50,000 items and services upper-income households might purchase. Greater Spokane Inc. and the Eastern Washington University Institute for Public Policy and Economic Analysis collected the information for Spokane.

Greater Spokane Inc. includes the cost comparison in an annual review of “Spokane Vitals” that measures the city’s economic, education and social performance against those of 11 other communities.

Spokane’s survey score was better than all that reported results for the second quarter. Boise and Madison, Wis., did not participate.