Cities along the West Coast have seen a surge in homelessness, a spike in crime and an eye-popping rise in real estate costs in recent years.
But believe it or not, there are still multiple metropolises in Oregon and Washington that are safe and affordable for those looking to relocate.
GOBankingRates analyzed cities across these states, looking at livability factors, rental costs, and violent crime rates to come up with a list of the best places to live on a budget.
Topping the list was Pullman, Washington: population 31,972.
According to the personal finance site, the city — located in the far east of the state close to the Idaho border — boasts a low violent crime rate of 0.9 per 1,000 residents.
The average cost of rent and expenditures in the pretty city is a reasonable $3,126.
Pullman boasts a regional airport and an art museum, and is located just 8 miles from the University of Idaho, which helps serve the local economy.
Second on the GOBankingRates list was Liberty Lake, also located in Washington.
Significantly smaller, with a population of 12,026, the city has a slightly higher violent crime rate of 2.2 per 1,000 residents. Rent and expenditures are also a little higher, coming in at $3,468.
Liberty Lake is just 16 miles east of Spokane, the second largest city in Washington, meaning work opportunities are more abundant than in other, more remote parts of the state.
Rounding out the top three safe and affordable metropolises was Central Point, Oregon.
Not far north of the California border, the small city — with 19,123 residents — is surrounded by rolling green hills and is in close proximity to ski resorts and national parks.
Vineyards also dot the city, where violent crime is a low 1.4 per 1,000 residents and rent and other costs come in at $3,818.
Cities in California were also analyzed by the experts, but they did not make the list of safest and most affordable places on the West Coast.
The Golden State is notorious for being one of the priciest states in the country.
