Cost of Living Comparison Between Bellingham, WA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Bellingham, WA and Seattle, WA

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Bellingham, WA is 15.3% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 21.4% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Bellingham, WA is 19% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 26.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Bellingham, WA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.3 $20.3
$25.11 $25.11
-19.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.9 $85.9
$118 $118
-27.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13 $13
$13.84 $13.84
-6.07%
Cappuccino
$5.25 $5.25
$5.8 $5.8
-9.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.95 $2.95
-13.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.1 $2.1
$2.51 $2.51
-16.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.92 $6.92
$7.81 $7.81
-11.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.97 $5.97
$7.84 $7.84
-23.85%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Bellingham, WA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.34 $1.34
-22.39%
White Bread (500g)
$3.66 $3.66
$4.98 $4.98
-26.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.36 $4.36
$5.35 $5.35
-18.50%
Eggs
$4.25 $4.25
$6.91 $6.91
-38.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.51 $17.51
$24.8 $24.8
-29.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.76 $15.76
$15.74 $15.74
0.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.1 $15.1
$20.84 $20.84
-27.54%
Apples (1kg)
$5.71 $5.71
$6.05 $6.05
-5.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$2.75 $2.75
-40.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$5.47 $5.47
-20.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.1 $5.1
$6.45 $6.45
-20.93%
Potato (1kg)
$3.06 $3.06
$3.11 $3.11
-1.61%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 $2.18
$3.69 $3.69
-40.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.2 $2.2
$2.78 $2.78
-20.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.52 $2.52
-1.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.35 $12.35
$11.64 $11.64
6.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.71 $17.71
$17.15 $17.15
3.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.94 $2.94
-40.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 $4.68
$4.19 $4.19
11.69%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Bellingham, WA
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 $1.03
$2.8 $2.8
-63.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.86 $29.86
$101 $101
-70.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.05 $10.05
$2.68 $2.68
275.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.7 $1.7
$1.65 $1.65
3.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$52.8 $52.8
$30.13 $30.13
75.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.16 $1.16
-4.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K $34.6K
$33.3K $33.3K
3.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$26.3K $26.3K
-0.68%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bellingham, WA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$271 $271
-34.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.9 $53.9
$61.8 $61.8
-12.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.1 $75.1
$75.2 $75.2
-0.09%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Bellingham, WA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.7 $69.7
$78.4 $78.4
-11.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$41.04 $41.04
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.95 $17.95
$15.89 $15.89
12.96%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Bellingham, WA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,465 $1,465
$2,248 $2,248
-34.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.9K $23.9K
$29K $29K
-17.73%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Bellingham, WA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 $51.7
$69.5 $69.5
-25.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.75 $28.75
$52.5 $52.5
-45.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.2 $98.2
$120 $120
-17.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 $148
$142 $142
4.07%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Bellingham, WA
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,712 $1,712
$2,376 $2,376
-27.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,447 $1,447
$1,829 $1,829
-20.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,766 $2,766
$4,702 $4,702
-41.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,510 $2,510
$3,474 $3,474
-27.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,013 $4,013
$6,928 $6,928
-42.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,109 $4,109
$5,224 $5,224
-21.34%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Bellingham, WA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,264 $4,264
$6,473 $6,473
-34.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.61
6.42
2.96%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bellingham, WA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.