Bellevue, WA vs Burien, WA

The cost of living difference between Bellevue, WA and Burien, WA is dramatic. Burien is 50.5% cheaper than Bellevue, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Bellevue has a cost index of 214 while Burien sits at 142, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Bellevue is $2,505/month compared to $1,742/month in Burien — a 44% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Burien is more affordable at $609,300 median vs $1,203,100.

Median household income in Bellevue is $161,300 compared to $90,597 in Burien (+78%). While Bellevue is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bellevue spend roughly 18.6% of their income on rent, less than the 23.1% in Burien.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (53.2°F vs 53.7°F). Burien receives more rainfall at 39.3" per year compared to 37.8" in Bellevue.