What is the cost of living in Bellevue, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bellevue has an overall cost of living index of 202, which is 2.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Bellevue has a cost of living index that's 1.7x higher than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Bellevue ranks as #189 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Bellevue ranks as the #2 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Bellevue, check out:
Bellevue Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bellevue. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Bellevue is 112.
The Groceries index in Bellevue is 112.
The Health index in Bellevue is 408.
The Housing index in Bellevue is 118.
The Transportation index in Bellevue is 117.
The Utilities index in Bellevue is 120.
| Living Expense | Bellevue | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 202 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 408 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 120 | 110 | 100 |
Bellevue Cost Of Living Compared To Washington Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Washington, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Bellevue Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Bellevue, WA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Washington, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Bellevue is $1,516,153.
The Median Rent in Bellevue is $2,572.
The Median Income in Bellevue is $165,576.
The Home Value To Income in Bellevue is 9.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Bellevue is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Bellevue | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,516,153 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,572 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $165,576 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.2x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Bellevue, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Bellevue Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Bellevue | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.4 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.37 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.59 | $18 |
| Haircut | $50.2 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $72.25 | $45.56 |
Detailed Bellevue Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Bellevue | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.54 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.55 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.1 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.49 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.4 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $12.14 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.96 | $3.7 |
Detailed Bellevue Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Bellevue | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $198.49 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $236.25 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.39 | $113.29 |
Detailed Bellevue Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Bellevue | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.66 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $67.2 | $59.92 |
Detailed Bellevue Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Bellevue | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $193.41 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $202.97 | $192.25 |
Bellevue SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Bellevue
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Bellevue. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Kent, WA has a cost of living index of 133, 0.7x Bellevue.
Redmond, WA has a cost of living index of 191, 0.9x Bellevue.
Sammamish, WA has a cost of living index of 202, 1.0x Bellevue.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Bellevue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent, WA | 135,603 | 133 | 0.7x |
| Redmond, WA | 77,353 | 191 | 0.9x |
| Sammamish, WA | 66,463 | 202 | 1.0x |
| Lynnwood, WA | 40,110 | 138 | 0.7x |
| Issaquah, WA | 39,591 | 173 | 0.9x |
| SeaTac, WA | 32,414 | 128 | 0.6x |
| Mercer Island, WA | 25,307 | 266 | 1.3x |
| Bainbridge Island, WA | 24,631 | 186 | 0.9x |
| Tukwila, WA | 21,451 | 127 | 0.6x |
| Monroe, WA | 19,755 | 136 | 0.7x |
