Bellingham, MN vs Elmore, MN

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Bellingham is 18.4% cheaper than Elmore. With a cost index of 53 vs 65, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Bellingham to Elmore should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Bellingham is $494/month compared to $907/month in Elmore — a 46% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bellingham has cheaper rent, Elmore actually has lower median home values ($45,800 vs $52,700).

Median household income in Bellingham is $52,083 compared to $40,938 in Elmore (+27.2%). Bellingham offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Bellingham spend roughly 11.4% of their income on rent, less than the 26.6% in Elmore.