CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs San Antonio, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableTX
San Antonio
94.7
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

San Antonio is moderately cheaper than Bellingham — 8.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $73,300 in San Antonio. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing16.2%
Bellingham
112.9
San Antonio
94.6
🛒 Groceries10.7%
Bellingham
105
San Antonio
93.8
🚗 Transportation3.2%
Bellingham
104.4
San Antonio
101.1
🏥 Healthcare3.3%
Bellingham
94.5
San Antonio
91.4
Utilities17.7%
Bellingham
99.9
San Antonio
82.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Antonio, TX
$73,300
$6,700 less needed in San Antonio

Formula: salary × (94.7 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9167. 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×

San Antonio, TX

Median Home Price
$274,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
94.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.6×

Bellingham has 16.2% lower housing costs compared to San Antonio.

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

San Antonio, TX

Median Household Income
$73,200
Per Capita Income
$41,700
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
1,434,625
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareTourismManufacturingGovernment

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)

San Antonio, TX
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.