Bellingham, WA vs Edmonds, WA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Bellingham is 21.8% cheaper than Edmonds. With a cost index of 129 vs 164, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Bellingham to Edmonds should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Bellingham is $1,478/month compared to $1,850/month in Edmonds — a 20% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Bellingham is more affordable at $577,400 median vs $840,200.

Median household income in Bellingham is $65,821 compared to $116,095 in Edmonds (-43.3%). While Edmonds 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 19.1% in Edmonds.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.2°F vs 51.4°F). Bellingham receives more rainfall at 34.7" per year compared to 33.4" in Edmonds.