CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Prescott, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableAZ
Prescott
98.3
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Prescott is slightly cheaper than Bellingham — 4.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $76,100 in Prescott. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing12.5%
Bellingham
112.9
Prescott
98.8
🛒 Groceries8.4%
Bellingham
105
Prescott
96.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Bellingham
104.4
Prescott
104.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Bellingham
94.5
Prescott
94.8
Utilities8.4%
Bellingham
99.9
Prescott
91.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Prescott, AZ
$76,100
$3,900 less needed in Prescott

Formula: salary × (98.3 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9516. 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×

Prescott, AZ

Median Home Price
$405,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
98.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.9×

Bellingham has 12.5% lower housing costs compared to Prescott.

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

Prescott, AZ

Median Household Income
$67,200
Per Capita Income
$38,300
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
45,827
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismRetailGovernmentReal Estate

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)

Prescott, AZ
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.