CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Midland, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Midland
95.8
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

Midland is moderately cheaper than Bellingham — 7.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $74,200 in Midland. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing10.1%
Bellingham
112.9
Midland
101.5
🛒 Groceries10.7%
Bellingham
105
Midland
93.8
🚗 Transportation3.2%
Bellingham
104.4
Midland
101.1
🏥 Healthcare3.3%
Bellingham
94.5
Midland
91.4
Utilities16.7%
Bellingham
99.9
Midland
83.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Midland, TX
$74,200
$5,800 less needed in Midland

Formula: salary × (95.8 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9274. 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×

Midland, TX

Median Home Price
$320,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
101.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.9×

Bellingham has 10.1% lower housing costs compared to Midland.

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

Midland, TX

Median Household Income
$92,900
Per Capita Income
$53,000
Unemployment Rate
2.2%
Population
132,950
Top Industries
EnergyOil & GasHealthcareManufacturingFinance

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)

Midland, TX
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.