What is the cost of living in Bellingham, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bellingham has an overall cost of living index of 138, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Bellingham has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Bellingham ranks as #128 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Bellingham ranks as the #63 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Bellingham, check out:
Bellingham Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bellingham. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Bellingham is 104.
The Groceries index in Bellingham is 110.
The Health index in Bellingham is 196.
The Housing index in Bellingham is 116.
The Transportation index in Bellingham is 110.
The Utilities index in Bellingham is 116.
| Living Expense | Bellingham | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 138 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 196 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 110 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 116 | 110 | 100 |
Bellingham 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 Bellingham Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Bellingham, 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 Bellingham is $668,589.
The Median Rent in Bellingham is $1,577.
The Median Income in Bellingham is $66,755.
The Home Value To Income in Bellingham is 10.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Bellingham is 0.28x.
| Statistic | Bellingham | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $668,589 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,577 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $66,755 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.0x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.28x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Bellingham, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Bellingham Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Bellingham | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.21 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.34 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.57 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.08 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $51.55 | $45.56 |
Detailed Bellingham Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Bellingham | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.04 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.19 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.95 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.4 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.85 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.4 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $4.05 | $3.7 |
Detailed Bellingham Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Bellingham | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $219.25 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $165.08 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $120.58 | $113.29 |
Detailed Bellingham Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Bellingham | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.11 | $59.92 |
Detailed Bellingham Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Bellingham | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $163.64 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $200.8 | $192.25 |
Bellingham SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Bellingham
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Bellingham. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Anacortes, WA has a cost of living index of 138, 1.0x Bellingham.
Lynden, WA has a cost of living index of 133, 1.0x Bellingham.
Ferndale, WA has a cost of living index of 128, 0.9x Bellingham.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anacortes, WA | 17,966 | 138 | 1.0x |
| Lynden, WA | 16,234 | 133 | 1.0x |
| Ferndale, WA | 15,999 | 128 | 0.9x |
| Sedro-Woolley, WA | 12,831 | 121 | 0.9x |
| Birch Bay, WA | 10,837 | 123 | 0.9x |
| Sudden Valley, WA | 6,084 | 133 | 1.0x |
