Bellingham, WA vs Vancouver, WA

Bellingham, WA and Vancouver, WA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.6% difference in their overall index. Bellingham scores 129 while Vancouver scores 123 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 $1,632/month in Vancouver — a 9% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bellingham has cheaper rent, Vancouver actually has lower median home values ($440,300 vs $577,400).

Median household income in Bellingham is $65,821 compared to $78,156 in Vancouver (-15.8%). Vancouver 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 25.1% in Vancouver.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.2°F vs 54°F). Vancouver receives more rainfall at 37.5" per year compared to 34.7" in Bellingham.