CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs New Haven, CT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
CT
New Haven
104.6
overall index
$1,975/mo rent

Bellingham is slightly cheaper than New Haven — 1.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $81,000 in New Haven. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+10.1%
Bellingham
112.9
New Haven
124.3
🛒 Groceries7.3%
Bellingham
105
New Haven
97.3
🚗 Transportation+3.3%
Bellingham
104.4
New Haven
107.8
🏥 Healthcare+3.2%
Bellingham
94.5
New Haven
97.5
Utilities+44.9%
Bellingham
99.9
New Haven
144.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in New Haven, CT
$81,000
$1,000 more needed in New Haven

Formula: salary × (104.6 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 1.0126. 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×

New Haven, CT

Median Home Price
$386,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,975
Housing Index
124.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.3×

New Haven has 10.1% higher housing costs compared to Bellingham.

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

New Haven, CT

Median Household Income
$80,700
Per Capita Income
$46,000
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
130,250
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareManufacturingFinanceGovernment

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)

New Haven, CT
3.4×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.