CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Harrisburg, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordablePA
Harrisburg
98.7
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Harrisburg is slightly cheaper than Bellingham — 4.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $76,400 in Harrisburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing14.7%
Bellingham
112.9
Harrisburg
96.3
🛒 Groceries4.1%
Bellingham
105
Harrisburg
100.7
🚗 Transportation1.7%
Bellingham
104.4
Harrisburg
102.6
🏥 Healthcare1.8%
Bellingham
94.5
Harrisburg
92.8
Utilities+8.2%
Bellingham
99.9
Harrisburg
108.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Harrisburg, PA
$76,400
$3,600 less needed in Harrisburg

Formula: salary × (98.7 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9555. 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×

Harrisburg, PA

Median Home Price
$298,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
96.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.7×

Bellingham has 14.7% lower housing costs compared to Harrisburg.

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

Harrisburg, PA

Median Household Income
$76,800
Per Capita Income
$43,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
49,192
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareFinanceEducationManufacturing

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)

Harrisburg, PA
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.