CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Minneapolis, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
MN
Minneapolis
104.8
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

Bellingham is slightly cheaper than Minneapolis — 1.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $81,200 in Minneapolis. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing1.0%
Bellingham
112.9
Minneapolis
111.8
🛒 Groceries1.8%
Bellingham
105
Minneapolis
103.1
🚗 Transportation+5.0%
Bellingham
104.4
Minneapolis
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+5.0%
Bellingham
94.5
Minneapolis
99.2
Utilities6.4%
Bellingham
99.9
Minneapolis
93.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Minneapolis, MN
$81,200
$1,200 more needed in Minneapolis

Formula: salary × (104.8 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 1.0145. 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×

Minneapolis, MN

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
111.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

Bellingham has 1.0% lower housing costs compared to Minneapolis.

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

Minneapolis, MN

Median Household Income
$95,100
Per Capita Income
$54,200
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
429,606
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareRetailManufacturingTechnology

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)

Minneapolis, MN
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.