Bellingham, WA vs Puyallup, WA

Bellingham, WA and Puyallup, WA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.1% difference in their overall index. Bellingham scores 129 while Puyallup 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 $1,750/month in Puyallup — a 16% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bellingham has cheaper rent, Puyallup actually has lower median home values ($507,000 vs $577,400).

Median household income in Bellingham is $65,821 compared to $95,639 in Puyallup (-31.2%). While Puyallup 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 22% in Puyallup.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.2°F vs 51.9°F). Puyallup receives more rainfall at 42" per year compared to 34.7" in Bellingham.