CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Flint, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableMI
Flint
93
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Flint is moderately cheaper than Bellingham — 10.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $72,000 in Flint. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing34.5%
Bellingham
112.9
Flint
74
🛒 Groceries10.8%
Bellingham
105
Flint
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Bellingham
104.4
Flint
104.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Bellingham
94.5
Flint
94.6
Utilities2.8%
Bellingham
99.9
Flint
97.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Flint, MI
$72,000
$8,000 less needed in Flint

Formula: salary × (93 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9003. 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×

Flint, MI

Median Home Price
$183,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
74
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Bellingham has 34.5% lower housing costs compared to Flint.

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

Flint, MI

Median Household Income
$60,000
Per Capita Income
$34,200
Unemployment Rate
6.9%
Population
81,252
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingEducationGovernmentRetail

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)

Flint, MI
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.