CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Nashville, TN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableTN
Nashville
96.3
overall index
$1,775/mo rent

Nashville is moderately cheaper than Bellingham — 6.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $74,600 in Nashville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing7.4%
Bellingham
112.9
Nashville
104.6
🛒 Groceries8.4%
Bellingham
105
Nashville
96.2
🚗 Transportation4.3%
Bellingham
104.4
Nashville
99.9
🏥 Healthcare4.3%
Bellingham
94.5
Nashville
90.4
Utilities27.9%
Bellingham
99.9
Nashville
72

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Nashville, TN
$74,600
$5,400 less needed in Nashville

Formula: salary × (96.3 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9322. 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×

Nashville, TN

Median Home Price
$444,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
104.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.8×

Bellingham has 7.4% lower housing costs compared to Nashville.

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

Nashville, TN

Median Household Income
$84,700
Per Capita Income
$48,300
Unemployment Rate
2.6%
Population
689,447
Top Industries
HealthcareMusicTourismManufacturingFinance

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)

Nashville, TN
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.