CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Erie, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordablePA
Erie
91
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Erie is moderately cheaper than Bellingham — 11.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $70,500 in Erie. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing49.7%
Bellingham
112.9
Erie
56.8
🛒 Groceries4.1%
Bellingham
105
Erie
100.7
🚗 Transportation1.7%
Bellingham
104.4
Erie
102.6
🏥 Healthcare1.8%
Bellingham
94.5
Erie
92.8
Utilities+6.9%
Bellingham
99.9
Erie
106.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Erie, PA
$70,500
$9,500 less needed in Erie

Formula: salary × (91 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.8809. 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×

Erie, PA

Median Home Price
$209,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
56.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

Bellingham has 49.7% lower housing costs compared to Erie.

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

Erie, PA

Median Household Income
$60,700
Per Capita Income
$34,600
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
94,831
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareEducationTechnologyRetail

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)

Erie, PA
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.