Cost of Living Comparison Between Bellingham, WA and Wasilla, AK Cost of Living Comparison Between Bellingham, WA and Wasilla, AK

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,982 per month in Bellingham, WA vs $2,867 in Wasilla, AK, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,352 per month in Bellingham, WA vs $4,083 in Wasilla, AK, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,723 per month in Bellingham, WA vs $5,300 in Wasilla, AK, rent included.

Bellingham, WA costs about 4% more than Wasilla, AK, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Bellingham, WA and Wasilla, AK sit above the global median – Bellingham, WA by 116%, Wasilla, AK by 108%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.60 $24.60

$22.35 $22.35

10.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 $78.8

$98.1 $98.1

-19.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.83 $11.83

$11.89 $11.89

-0.50%

Cappuccino

$5.55 $5.55

$4.03 $4.03

37.72%

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

$3.34 $3.34

$2.03 $2.03

64.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.02 $2.02

11.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.18 $7.18

$5.48 $5.48

31.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.99 $5.99

$7.87 $7.87

-23.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.18 $1.18

-5.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.00 $3.00

24.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.25 $4.25

$6.03 $6.03

-29.52%

Eggs

$6.08 $6.08

$3.30 $3.30

84.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.97 $15.97

$13.68 $13.68

16.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.10 $13.10

$10.23 $10.23

28.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.94 $22.94

$15.69 $15.69

46.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$8.39 $8.39

-48.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.21 $2.21

-20.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.76 $3.76

11.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.47 $4.47

2.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.72 $2.72

2.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$3.50 $3.50

-16.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.75 $2.75

-36.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.33 $2.33

32.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.88 $11.88

$12.61 $12.61

-5.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.18 $18.18

$17.47 $17.47

4.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.74 $1.74

1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.40 $3.40

46.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.94 $1.94

-47.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.26 $30.26

$59.7 $59.7

-49.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.71 $2.71

-2.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.73 $1.73

-4.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.15 $30.15

$38.52 $38.52

-21.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$0.99 $0.99

30.30%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$34.4K $34.4K

4.37%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.4K $25.4K

1.50%

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

$226 $226

$275 $275

-17.77%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$49.08 $49.08

24.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.7 $76.7

$142 $142

-45.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.2 $59.2

$85.8 $85.8

-30.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.03 $15.03

$34.48 $34.48

-56.41%

Cinema Ticket

$18.13 $18.13

$8.67 $8.67

109.11%

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

$1,139 $1,139

$1,224 $1,224

-6.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.5K $31.5K

$10.3K $10.3K

206.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 $59.9

$48.86 $48.86

22.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.63 $28.63

$45.58 $45.58

-37.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 $83.8

$79.0 $79.0

5.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$91.2 $91.2

37.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,774 $1,774

$1,395 $1,395

27.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 $1,493

$1,389 $1,389

7.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,748 $2,748

$2,014 $2,014

36.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,417 $2,417

$1,980 $1,980

22.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 $4,056

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,049 $4,049

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,249 $4,249

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.07

6.05

0.33%

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

Last update for Bellingham, WA: September 6, 2026

Last update for Wasilla, AK: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,774 in Bellingham, WA versus $1,395 in Wasilla, AK. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Bellingham, WA versus $98.0 in Wasilla, AK. Groceries tell a different story – $457 in Bellingham, WA vs $415 in Wasilla, AK – so Wasilla, AK wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Bellingham, WA vs Wasilla, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bellingham, WA costs about 4% more than Wasilla, AK, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,473 per month in Bellingham, WA and $4,301 in Wasilla, AK. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Wasilla, AK, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,139 per month in Bellingham, WA and $1,224 in Wasilla, AK. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Bellingham, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,982 in Bellingham, WA and $2,867 in Wasilla, AK. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Wasilla, AK – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Wasilla, AK. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bellingham, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.