| Index | Bellevue | Washington | National |
| Cost of living | 203 | 119 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 107 | 100 |
| Health care | 111 | 109 | 100 |
| Housing | 407 | 138 | 100 |
| Transportation | 119 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 116 | 110 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 119 | 112 | 100 |
| Household Items | 111 | 107 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 130 | 117 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Bellevue is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Bellevue is 203, which is 103% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.
If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Bellevue is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Bellevue falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Bellevue cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 307.3% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
Household expenses account for 8% of the cost of living index and include the products people rely on every week, from toiletries and detergent to clothing and kitchen essentials. In Bellevue, household essentials are 10.5% more expensive than the U.S. average, which can leave less room in your monthly budget.
The cost of groceries continues to rise at an alarming rate. Over the last two years, grocery prices have increased by more than 10%! Unfortunately, in Bellevue, the news isn't any better as grocery prices are 10.1% higher than the national average.
Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 21 residents in Bellevue to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 14% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 86% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.
Is Bellevue an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Bellevue is 386.4% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 122.7% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Bellevue has a median household income of $192,022, which is 136.1% higher than the national average.
Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Bellevue, the utilities index is 16% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.
Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Bellevue, the groceries index registers 10.1% higher than the national average.
The Bellevue cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $235,596 | $19,633 | $5,497 | $7,069 |
| Renters | $158,979 | $13,248 | $3,709 | $4,770 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Washington | 6.5% | 10.4% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Washington | 0% | 0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Fairwood CDP (Spokane County), WA | 8,331 | 113 | 13.4% |
| Tukwila, WA | 20,710 | 126 | 25.7% |
| Indianola, WA | 3,678 | 129 | 28.9% |
| SeaTac, WA | 30,186 | 129 | 29.0% |
| Kingston, WA | 2,919 | 133 | 33.1% |
| Bellevue, WA | 151,975 | 203 | 103.2% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Joliet, IL | 152,137 | 102 | 2.4% |
| Naperville, IL | 151,582 | 133 | 32.6% |
| Rockford, IL | 151,169 | 87 | 13.5% |
| Killeen, TX | 152,944 | 94 | 6.1% |
| Torrance, CA | 150,066 | 195 | 94.6% |
| Bellevue, WA | 151,975 | 203 | 103.2% |
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