CostIndexUSA

Aurora, CO vs Bellingham, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Aurora
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableWA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent

Bellingham is slightly cheaper than Aurora — 2.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Aurora, you would need $78,100 in Bellingham. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing23.1%
Aurora
146.9
Bellingham
112.9
🛒 Groceries+4.0%
Aurora
101
Bellingham
105
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Aurora
104.4
Bellingham
104.4
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Aurora
94.5
Bellingham
94.5
Utilities+13.7%
Aurora
87.9
Bellingham
99.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Aurora to see what you'd need to earn in Bellingham to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Bellingham, WA
$78,100
$1,900 less needed in Bellingham

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 105.8) = salary × 0.9764. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Aurora, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Bellingham, WA

Median Home Price
$598,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
112.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.6×

Aurora has 23.1% lower housing costs compared to Bellingham.

Income & Job Market

Aurora, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
366,623
Top Industries
HealthcareAerospaceTechnologyGovernmentRetail

Bellingham, WA

Median Household Income
$74,900
Per Capita Income
$42,700
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
92,314
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyManufacturingTourism

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Aurora, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Bellingham, WA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.