CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Hartford, CT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableCT
Hartford
102.7
overall index
$1,875/mo rent

Hartford is slightly cheaper than Bellingham — 0.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $79,500 in Hartford. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing2.4%
Bellingham
112.9
Hartford
110.2
🛒 Groceries7.3%
Bellingham
105
Hartford
97.3
🚗 Transportation+3.3%
Bellingham
104.4
Hartford
107.8
🏥 Healthcare+3.2%
Bellingham
94.5
Hartford
97.5
Utilities+45.0%
Bellingham
99.9
Hartford
144.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Hartford, CT
$79,500
$500 less needed in Hartford

Formula: salary × (102.7 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9942. 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×

Hartford, CT

Median Home Price
$377,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
110.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.8×

Bellingham has 2.4% lower housing costs compared to Hartford.

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

Hartford, CT

Median Household Income
$92,200
Per Capita Income
$52,600
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
121,054
Top Industries
FinanceInsuranceHealthcareGovernmentEducation

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)

Hartford, CT
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.