CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Omaha, NE Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableNE
Omaha
91.9
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Omaha is moderately cheaper than Bellingham — 11.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $71,200 in Omaha. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing23.5%
Bellingham
112.9
Omaha
86.4
🛒 Groceries10.4%
Bellingham
105
Omaha
94.1
🚗 Transportation6.5%
Bellingham
104.4
Omaha
97.6
🏥 Healthcare6.6%
Bellingham
94.5
Omaha
88.3
Utilities23.5%
Bellingham
99.9
Omaha
76.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Omaha, NE
$71,200
$8,800 less needed in Omaha

Formula: salary × (91.9 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.8896. 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×

Omaha, NE

Median Home Price
$295,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
86.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.6×

Bellingham has 23.5% lower housing costs compared to Omaha.

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

Omaha, NE

Median Household Income
$81,400
Per Capita Income
$46,400
Unemployment Rate
2.6%
Population
486,051
Top Industries
FinanceInsuranceHealthcareTelecommunicationsManufacturing

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)

Omaha, NE
4.8×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.