CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Bend, OR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostWA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
OR
Bend
103.6
overall index
$2,200/mo rent

Bellingham and Bend have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing2.6%
Bellingham
112.9
Bend
110
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Bellingham
105
Bend
105.3
🚗 Transportation+0.9%
Bellingham
104.4
Bend
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+0.8%
Bellingham
94.5
Bend
95.3
Utilities+5.1%
Bellingham
99.9
Bend
105

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Bend, OR
$80,200
$200 more needed in Bend

Formula: salary × (103.6 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 1.0029. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bellingham, WA

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

Bend, OR

Median Home Price
$653,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
110
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.7×

Bellingham has 2.6% lower housing costs compared to Bend.

Income & Job Market

Bellingham, WA

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

Bend, OR

Median Household Income
$91,700
Per Capita Income
$52,300
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
102,059
Top Industries
TourismTechnologyHealthcareRetailConstruction

Affordability at a Glance

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

Bellingham, WA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Bend, OR
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.