| Index | Bellingham | Washington | National |
| Cost of living | 137 | 119 | 100 |
| Groceries | 106 | 107 | 100 |
| Health care | 109 | 109 | 100 |
| Housing | 195 | 138 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 117 | 112 | 100 |
| Household Items | 110 | 107 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 120 | 117 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Bellingham? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Bellingham stands at 137, making it 37% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
The cost of living in Bellingham is among the highest in the country, making it a very expensive place to live. Only a small fraction of regions boast a cost of living that is at least 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Bellingham falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.
When it comes to the cost of living in Bellingham, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 95.4% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 35 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Bellingham and this is how they responded. 23% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 77% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is Bellingham 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 Bellingham is 128.2% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 18.8% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Bellingham has a median household income of $83,310, which is 2.4% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.
Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Bellingham, the utilities index registers 11.8% higher than the national average.
Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Bellingham, is 95.4% higher than the national average.
The Bellingham cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical 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 | $130,523 | $10,877 | $3,045 | $3,916 |
| Renters | $56,971 | $4,748 | $1,329 | $1,709 |
| 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. |
| Acme, WA | 126 | 112 | 12.1% |
| Everson, WA | 2,830 | 120 | 19.9% |
| Birch Bay, WA | 10,265 | 121 | 21.3% |
| Nooksack, WA | 1,652 | 123 | 23.2% |
| Ferndale, WA | 15,070 | 127 | 26.5% |
| Bellingham, WA | 92,702 | 137 | 37.1% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Town 'n' Country, FL | 92,543 | 108 | 7.6% |
| Miami Beach, FL | 92,948 | 138 | 37.6% |
| Indio, CA | 92,311 | 126 | 25.9% |
| Germantown, MD | 92,229 | 134 | 34.4% |
| Toms River, NJ | 93,337 | 127 | 27.4% |
| Bellingham, WA | 92,702 | 137 | 37.1% |
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