CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Odessa, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Odessa
93.9
overall index
$1,550/mo rent

Odessa is moderately cheaper than Bellingham — 9.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $72,700 in Odessa. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing20.5%
Bellingham
112.9
Odessa
89.7
🛒 Groceries10.7%
Bellingham
105
Odessa
93.8
🚗 Transportation3.2%
Bellingham
104.4
Odessa
101.1
🏥 Healthcare3.3%
Bellingham
94.5
Odessa
91.4
Utilities17.0%
Bellingham
99.9
Odessa
82.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Odessa, TX
$72,700
$7,300 less needed in Odessa

Formula: salary × (93.9 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9090. 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×

Odessa, TX

Median Home Price
$246,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
89.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.2×

Bellingham has 20.5% lower housing costs compared to Odessa.

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

Odessa, TX

Median Household Income
$66,600
Per Capita Income
$38,000
Unemployment Rate
1.9%
Population
122,555
Top Industries
EnergyOil & GasHealthcareManufacturingRetail

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)

Odessa, TX
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.