CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Spokane, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableWA
Spokane
100.3
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Spokane is slightly cheaper than Bellingham — 2.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $77,700 in Spokane. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing14.0%
Bellingham
112.9
Spokane
97.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Bellingham
105
Spokane
105
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Bellingham
104.4
Spokane
104.4
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Bellingham
94.5
Spokane
94.5
Utilities8.7%
Bellingham
99.9
Spokane
91.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Spokane, WA
$77,700
$2,300 less needed in Spokane

Formula: salary × (100.3 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9710. 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×

Spokane, WA

Median Home Price
$406,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
97.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.9×

Bellingham has 14.0% lower housing costs compared to Spokane.

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

Spokane, WA

Median Household Income
$72,800
Per Capita Income
$41,500
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
228,989
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationGovernmentManufacturingRetail

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)

Spokane, WA
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.