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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,025 in Bellingham, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,820 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,338 in Bellingham, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,759 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,651 in Bellingham, WA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 28% more than Bellingham, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Bellingham, WA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 184%, Bellingham, WA by 121%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$25.03 $25.03

-0.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$78.5 $78.5

27.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$11.90 $11.90

26.55%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$5.58 $5.58

14.16%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.23 $3.23

-4.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.18 $2.18

37.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$7.08 $7.08

10.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.07 $6.07

35.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.09 $1.09

11.01%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.74 $3.74

33.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.38 $4.38

45.89%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$6.22 $6.22

-17.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$16.07 $16.07

30.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$12.71 $12.71

44.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$22.79 $22.79

5.44%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.34 $4.34

35.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.68 $1.68

11.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.30 $4.30

23.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$4.61 $4.61

40.35%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.75 $2.75

33.82%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.04 $3.04

10.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.75 $1.75

59.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.04 $3.04

-15.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$12.17 $12.17

14.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$17.95 $17.95

-16.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.69 $1.69

153.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$4.78 $4.78

22.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$0.98 $0.98

197.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$30.20 $30.20

260.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.55 $2.55

0.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.70 $1.70

1.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$29.75 $29.75

2.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.32 $1.32

6.06%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$36.9K $36.9K

-2.07%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.9K $25.9K

-1.52%

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

$299 $299

$225 $225

33.29%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$59.9 $59.9

15.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$78.2 $78.2

12.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$58.6 $58.6

36.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

$14.89 $14.89

134.59%

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$18.18 $18.18

-2.64%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,134 $1,134

166.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$31.9K $31.9K

-2.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$60.7 $60.7

27.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$28.39 $28.39

93.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$85.6 $85.6

49.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$128 $128

24.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,805 $1,805

37.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,480 $1,480

30.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,725 $2,725

74.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$2,384 $2,384

52.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$4,107 $4,107

84.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$4,086 $4,086

25.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$4,254 $4,254

46.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.07

6.26%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bellingham, WA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,805 in Bellingham, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 46% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Seattle, WA versus $78.0 in Bellingham, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $552 vs $455 – making Bellingham, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Seattle, WA costs about 28% more than Bellingham, WA, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,820 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,537 in Bellingham, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $3,020 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,134 in Bellingham, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,880 in Seattle, WA and $3,025 in Bellingham, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bellingham, WA costs $3,025 versus $3,880 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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