Cost of Living in Bellingham, WA
| Cost of Living in Bellingham, WA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 11% higher | 43% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 1% lower | 8% lower |
| Food | 2% lower | 9% higher |
| Healthcare | 2% lower | 16% higher |
| Transportation | 5% lower | 22% higher |
| Goods & Services | 8% higher | 22% higher |
The cost of living in Bellingham, WA is 5% higher than the state average and 23% higher than the national average. Bellingham, WA housing is 43% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 8% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 9% pricier in Bellingham, WA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 22% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 16% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 22% 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 $2,031, while home prices circle around $733,410.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Bellingham, energy bills cost around $167.48 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 $4.89 in Bellingham, a dozen eggs go for around $4.42 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.17.
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 $220.06, while a dentist appointment is priced $124.11 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $4.29 in Bellingham, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $64.83.
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 $47.46 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $39.63.
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 $14.38 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $27.03, while dry cleaning costs about $17.37.
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 $64,026.