CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Grand Junction, CO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableCO
Grand Junction
95.5
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Grand Junction is moderately cheaper than Bellingham — 7.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $74,000 in Grand Junction. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing23.5%
Bellingham
112.9
Grand Junction
86.4
🛒 Groceries8.5%
Bellingham
105
Grand Junction
96.1
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Bellingham
104.4
Grand Junction
104.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Bellingham
94.5
Grand Junction
94.8
Utilities16.6%
Bellingham
99.9
Grand Junction
83.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Grand Junction, CO
$74,000
$6,000 less needed in Grand Junction

Formula: salary × (95.5 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9245. 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×

Grand Junction, CO

Median Home Price
$418,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
86.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.2×

Bellingham has 23.5% lower housing costs compared to Grand Junction.

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

Grand Junction, CO

Median Household Income
$64,700
Per Capita Income
$36,900
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
64,785
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareAgricultureRetailGovernment

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)

Grand Junction, CO
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

68% 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.