CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Champaign, IL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableIL
Champaign
92.7
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Champaign is moderately cheaper than Bellingham — 10.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $71,800 in Champaign. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing36.6%
Bellingham
112.9
Champaign
71.6
🛒 Groceries10.9%
Bellingham
105
Champaign
93.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Bellingham
104.4
Champaign
104.6
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Bellingham
94.5
Champaign
94.6
Utilities9.4%
Bellingham
99.9
Champaign
90.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Bellingham to see what you'd need to earn in Champaign to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Champaign, IL
$71,800
$8,200 less needed in Champaign

Formula: salary × (92.7 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.8974. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bellingham, WA

Median Home Price
$598,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
112.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.6×

Champaign, IL

Median Home Price
$224,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
71.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.6×

Bellingham has 36.6% lower housing costs compared to Champaign.

Income & Job Market

Bellingham, WA

Median Household Income
$74,900
Per Capita Income
$42,700
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
92,314
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyManufacturingTourism

Champaign, IL

Median Household Income
$62,100
Per Capita Income
$35,400
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
88,302
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyAgricultureRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Bellingham, WA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Champaign, IL
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.