Bellingham, WA vs Redmond, WA

The cost of living difference between Bellingham, WA and Redmond, WA is dramatic. Bellingham is 35.7% cheaper than Redmond, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Bellingham has a cost index of 129 while Redmond sits at 200, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Bellingham is $1,478/month compared to $2,343/month in Redmond — a 37% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Bellingham is more affordable at $577,400 median vs $1,091,700.

Median household income in Bellingham is $65,821 compared to $162,099 in Redmond (-59.4%). While Redmond 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 17.3% in Redmond.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.2°F vs 53.2°F). Redmond receives more rainfall at 37.8" per year compared to 34.7" in Bellingham.