CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is significantly cheaper than Bellingham — 19.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $64,700 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−62.1%
Bellingham
112.9
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries−10.8%
Bellingham
105
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation−3.7%
Bellingham
104.4
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−3.8%
Bellingham
94.5
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−27.7%
Bellingham
99.9
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$64,700
$15,300 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.8093. 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×

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Bellingham has 62.1% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

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

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

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)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Bellingham vs other cities

Bellingham, WA
vs
Bremerton, WA
Index: 103.3Index: 105.6
Bellingham, WA
vs
Kennewick, WA
Index: 103.3Index: 100.1
Bellingham, WA
vs
Mount Vernon, WA
Index: 103.3Index: 102.4
Bellingham, WA
vs
Asheville, NC
Index: 103.3Index: 96.5
Bellingham, WA
vs
Redding, CA
Index: 103.3Index: 100.7

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 85.9
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

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.