Cost of Living Comparison Between Bellevue, WA and Bothell, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Bellevue, WA and Bothell, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,577 in Bellevue, WA versus $3,056 in Bothell, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,417 in Bellevue, WA versus $4,690 in Bothell, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,257 in Bellevue, WA versus $6,324 in Bothell, WA.

Living in Bellevue, WA is roughly 17% more expensive than Bothell, WA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bellevue, WA 167% above, Bothell, WA 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.68 $22.68

$20.71 $20.71

9.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$102 $102

17.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.30 $13.30

$14.14 $14.14

-5.94%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.88 $5.88

-4.59%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$3.34 $3.34

-13.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.47 $2.47

-3.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.83 $6.83

14.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.86 $7.86

$7.89 $7.89

-0.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.22 $1.22

-10.66%

White Bread (500g)

$4.36 $4.36

$3.75 $3.75

16.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$5.22 $5.22

-46.74%

Eggs

$6.47 $6.47

$6.54 $6.54

-1.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.05 $15.05

$17.16 $17.16

-12.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.67 $15.67

$11.07 $11.07

41.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$16.52 $16.52

-8.17%

Apples (1kg)

$5.54 $5.54

$6.56 $6.56

-15.55%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.92 $1.92

15.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$5.34 $5.34

-8.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$5.13 $5.13

-27.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$3.27 $3.27

-27.22%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$2.77 $2.77

39.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.03 $2.03

26.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.64 $2.64

0.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.22 $13.22

$11.44 $11.44

15.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.27 $15.27

$12.97 $12.97

17.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.98 $2.98

-29.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$4.16 $4.16

2.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.78 $2.78

-3.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$105 $105

$97.9 $97.9

6.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.62 $2.62

1.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.15 $30.15

$29.54 $29.54

2.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.13 $1.13

1.77%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.6K $33.6K

$32.7K $32.7K

2.63%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.22%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$182 $182

$154 $154

18.34%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$52.8 $52.8

$59.9 $59.9

-11.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.1 $73.1

$79.7 $79.7

-8.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.4 $78.4

$59.4 $59.4

32.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.93 $39.93

Cinema Ticket

$18.05 $18.05

$14.77 $14.77

22.21%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,119 $2,119

$1,473 $1,473

43.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.9K $29.9K

$29.8K $29.8K

0.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.1 $61.1

$52.2 $52.2

17.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.87 $36.87

$52.2 $52.2

-29.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.0 $99.0

$116 $116

-14.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$140 $140

-19.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,907 $2,907

$1,920 $1,920

51.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,078 $2,078

$1,579 $1,579

31.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,484 $4,484

$3,283 $3,283

36.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,649 $3,649

$2,932 $2,932

24.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,748 $4,748

$5,857 $5,857

-18.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,713 $4,713

$4,813 $4,813

-2.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,697 $8,697

$6,254 $6,254

39.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.61

6.46

2.32%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bellevue, WA: June 2, 2026

Last update for Bothell, WA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,907 in Bellevue, WA and $1,920 in Bothell, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bellevue, WA pays 39% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $119 in Bellevue, WA vs $102 in Bothell, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $446 vs $449, with Bellevue, WA cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Bellevue, WA vs Bothell, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bothell, WA is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Bellevue, WA pays 39% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,907 in Bellevue, WA versus $1,920 in Bothell, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bothell, WA – a meal for two runs $102 versus $119 in Bellevue, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,577 per month in Bellevue, WA versus $3,056 in Bothell, WA – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Bothell, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Bothell, WA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Bellevue, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Bellevue, WA and Bothell, WA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bothell, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Bellevue, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.