Cost of Living Comparison Between Waltham, MA and Bellevue, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Waltham, MA and Bellevue, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,300 in Waltham, MA versus $3,694 in Bellevue, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,485 in Waltham, MA versus $5,595 in Bellevue, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,671 in Waltham, MA versus $7,496 in Bellevue, WA.

Living in Waltham, MA is roughly 16% more expensive than in Bellevue, WA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Waltham, MA 214% above, Bellevue, WA 170% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.83 $24.83

$25.25 $25.25

-1.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$97.2 $97.2

$100 $100

-2.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$12.83 $12.83

-7.56%

Cappuccino

$5.36 $5.36

$6.05 $6.05

-11.40%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$3.06 $3.06

-2.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.48 $2.48

-2.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.11 $5.11

$8.05 $8.05

-36.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.82 $7.82

$8.14 $8.14

-3.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.12 $1.12

-2.68%

White Bread (500g)

$4.00 $4.00

$4.79 $4.79

-16.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.45 $5.45

$3.23 $3.23

68.73%

Eggs

$4.77 $4.77

$5.14 $5.14

-7.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.25 $11.25

$18.29 $18.29

-38.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.04 $14.04

$13.75 $13.75

2.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.77 $17.77

$16.52 $16.52

7.57%

Apples (1kg)

$6.69 $6.69

$5.53 $5.53

20.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.95 $1.95

-10.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.23 $5.23

5.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$4.60 $4.60

24.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.64 $2.64

40.91%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.23 $3.23

25.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.35 $2.35

22.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 $2.90

$2.28 $2.28

27.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.74 $12.74

$12.40 $12.40

2.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.38 $13.38

$15.25 $15.25

-12.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.46 $2.46

-13.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.44 $3.44

18.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.73 $2.73

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.8 $59.8

$106 $106

-43.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.61 $2.61

0.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.65 $1.65

4.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.95 $27.95

$30.05 $30.05

-6.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.41 $1.41

-32.62%

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

$36.3K $36.3K

$35.7K $35.7K

1.68%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

0.12%

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

$324 $324

$155 $155

108.73%

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

$53.7 $53.7

$53.4 $53.4

0.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.7 $86.7

$88.3 $88.3

-1.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$248 $248

$131 $131

89.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.71 $38.71

Cinema Ticket

$14.91 $14.91

$18.17 $18.17

-17.94%

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

$1,803 $1,803

$1,967 $1,967

-8.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.4K $30.4K

$30.9K $30.9K

-1.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.6 $57.6

$60.8 $60.8

-5.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.47 $38.47

$53.8 $53.8

-28.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.7 $78.7

$100 $100

-21.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$113 $113

-10.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,537 $2,537

$2,742 $2,742

-7.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,533 $2,533

$2,070 $2,070

22.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,467 $5,467

$5,193 $5,193

5.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,073 $5,073

$3,801 $3,801

33.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,714 $4,714

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,669 $4,669

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,142 $5,142

$8,956 $8,956

-42.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.04

6.27

-3.67%

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

Last update for Waltham, MA: September 15, 2026

Last update for Bellevue, WA: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,537 in Waltham, MA and $2,742 in Bellevue, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bellevue, WA pays 74% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $97.0 in Waltham, MA vs $100 in Bellevue, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $455 vs $450, 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

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

Bellevue, WA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 74% lower in Bellevue, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,537 in Waltham, MA versus $2,742 in Bellevue, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bellevue, WA – a meal for two runs $100 versus $97.0 in Waltham, MA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $4,300 per month in Waltham, MA versus $3,694 in Bellevue, WA – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Bellevue, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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

Safety-wise, Waltham, MA and Bellevue, 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 Bellevue, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Waltham, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.