Bellingham, WA vs SeaTac, WA

Bellingham, WA and SeaTac, WA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.1% difference in their overall index. Bellingham scores 129 while SeaTac scores 129 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 $1,637/month in SeaTac — a 10% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bellingham has cheaper rent, SeaTac actually has lower median home values ($483,200 vs $577,400).

Median household income in Bellingham is $65,821 compared to $76,517 in SeaTac (-14%). While SeaTac 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 25.7% in SeaTac.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.2°F vs 53.7°F). SeaTac receives more rainfall at 39.3" per year compared to 34.7" in Bellingham.