CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Duluth, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableMN
Duluth
88.8
overall index
$1,750/mo rent

Duluth is moderately cheaper than Bellingham — 14.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $68,800 in Duluth. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing37.0%
Bellingham
112.9
Duluth
71.1
🛒 Groceries9.2%
Bellingham
105
Duluth
95.3
🚗 Transportation7.3%
Bellingham
104.4
Duluth
96.8
🏥 Healthcare7.3%
Bellingham
94.5
Duluth
87.6
Utilities12.6%
Bellingham
99.9
Duluth
87.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Duluth, MN
$68,800
$11,200 less needed in Duluth

Formula: salary × (88.8 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.8596. 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×

Duluth, MN

Median Home Price
$245,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
71.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.7×

Bellingham has 37.0% lower housing costs compared to Duluth.

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

Duluth, MN

Median Household Income
$70,200
Per Capita Income
$40,000
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
89,127
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationShippingManufacturingTourism

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)

Duluth, MN
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.