Bellingham, WA vs Everett, WA

Bellingham, WA and Everett, WA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4% difference in their overall index. Bellingham scores 129 while Everett scores 134 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Bellingham is $1,478/month compared to $1,675/month in Everett — a 12% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bellingham has cheaper rent, Everett actually has lower median home values ($532,300 vs $577,400).

Median household income in Bellingham is $65,821 compared to $81,502 in Everett (-19.2%). While Everett 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 24.7% in Everett.

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 Everett.