Cost of Living in Bellingham, WA
| Cost of Living in Bellingham, WA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 7% higher | 40% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 6% higher | 1% higher |
| Food | 0% | 6% higher |
| Healthcare | 5% lower | 10% higher |
| Transportation | 5% lower | 18% higher |
| Goods & Services | 5% higher | 19% higher |
The cost of living in Bellingham, WA is 4% higher than the state average and 21% higher than the national average. Bellingham, WA housing is 40% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 1% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 6% pricier in Bellingham, WA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 19% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 10% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 19% pricier in Bellingham, WA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Bellingham is $1,802, while home prices circle around $777,111.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Bellingham, energy bills cost around $207.83 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.70 in Bellingham, a dozen eggs go for around $4.26 and a pound of potatoes circles around $3.98.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Bellingham, an optometry check-up costs around $232.08, while a dentist appointment is priced $126.26 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $4.09 in Bellingham, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $64.58.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $53.87 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $48.30.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Bellingham, you should budget around $16.20 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $29.86, while dry cleaning costs about $16.48.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Bellingham, the median household income is $65,821.