Bellingham, WA vs Des Moines, WA

Bellingham is moderately more affordable than Des Moines, with a 5.5% lower cost of living index. Bellingham scores 129 compared to 136 for Des Moines, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Des Moines can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bellingham is $1,478/month compared to $1,727/month in Des Moines — a 14% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bellingham has cheaper rent, Des Moines actually has lower median home values ($539,800 vs $577,400).

Median household income in Bellingham is $65,821 compared to $89,787 in Des Moines (-26.7%). While Des Moines is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bellingham spend roughly 26.9% of their income on rent, more than the 23.1% in Des Moines.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.2°F vs 53.7°F). Des Moines receives more rainfall at 39.3" per year compared to 34.7" in Bellingham.