CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Redding, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableCA
Redding
100.7
overall index
$1,600/mo rent

Redding is slightly cheaper than Bellingham — 2.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $78,000 in Redding. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing20.8%
Bellingham
112.9
Redding
89.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Bellingham
105
Redding
105.2
🚗 Transportation+0.9%
Bellingham
104.4
Redding
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+0.8%
Bellingham
94.5
Redding
95.3
Utilities+57.9%
Bellingham
99.9
Redding
157.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Redding, CA
$78,000
$2,000 less needed in Redding

Formula: salary × (100.7 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9748. 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×

Redding, CA

Median Home Price
$362,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Housing Index
89.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.9×

Bellingham has 20.8% lower housing costs compared to Redding.

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

Redding, CA

Median Household Income
$75,900
Per Capita Income
$43,300
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
91,305
Top Industries
HealthcareGovernmentRetailManufacturingEducation

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)

Redding, CA
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.