CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Providence, RI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableRI
Providence
101.8
overall index
$2,075/mo rent

Providence is slightly cheaper than Bellingham — 1.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $78,800 in Providence. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing8.0%
Bellingham
112.9
Providence
103.9
🛒 Groceries7.5%
Bellingham
105
Providence
97.1
🚗 Transportation+2.9%
Bellingham
104.4
Providence
107.4
🏥 Healthcare+2.9%
Bellingham
94.5
Providence
97.2
Utilities+48.9%
Bellingham
99.9
Providence
148.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Providence, RI
$78,800
$1,200 less needed in Providence

Formula: salary × (101.8 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9855. 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×

Providence, RI

Median Home Price
$501,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,075
Housing Index
103.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.1×

Bellingham has 8.0% lower housing costs compared to Providence.

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

Providence, RI

Median Household Income
$83,300
Per Capita Income
$47,500
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
190,934
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationFinanceManufacturingTourism

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)

Providence, RI
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% 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.