CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Eugene, OR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableOR
Eugene
101.6
overall index
$1,900/mo rent

Eugene is slightly cheaper than Bellingham — 1.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $78,700 in Eugene. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing12.8%
Bellingham
112.9
Eugene
98.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Bellingham
105
Eugene
105.3
🚗 Transportation+0.9%
Bellingham
104.4
Eugene
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+0.8%
Bellingham
94.5
Eugene
95.3
Utilities+2.6%
Bellingham
99.9
Eugene
102.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Eugene, OR
$78,700
$1,300 less needed in Eugene

Formula: salary × (101.6 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9835. 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×

Eugene, OR

Median Home Price
$443,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,900
Housing Index
98.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Bellingham has 12.8% lower housing costs compared to Eugene.

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

Eugene, OR

Median Household Income
$70,400
Per Capita Income
$40,100
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
176,654
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareManufacturingTechnologyRetail

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)

Eugene, OR
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

68% 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.