Bellingham, WA vs Renton, WA

Bellingham is moderately more affordable than Renton, with a 14% lower cost of living index. Bellingham scores 129 compared to 150 for Renton, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Renton 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 $1,923/month in Renton — a 23% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Bellingham is more affordable at $577,400 median vs $631,400.

Median household income in Bellingham is $65,821 compared to $96,626 in Renton (-31.9%). While Renton 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 23.9% in Renton.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.2°F vs 53.6°F). Renton receives more rainfall at 34.7" per year compared to 34.7" in Bellingham.