Bellingham, WA vs Olympia, WA

Olympia is moderately more affordable than Bellingham, with a 6.7% lower cost of living index. Bellingham scores 129 compared to 121 for Olympia, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Bellingham 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 $1,509/month in Olympia — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bellingham has cheaper rent, Olympia actually has lower median home values ($457,900 vs $577,400).

Median household income in Bellingham is $65,821 compared to $76,930 in Olympia (-14.4%). Olympia 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 26.9% of their income on rent, more than the 23.5% in Olympia.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.2°F vs 50.5°F). Olympia receives more rainfall at 50.6" per year compared to 34.7" in Bellingham.